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RETIREMENT MATTERS FOR MINISTERS
A report on a research project into how
Baptist ministers experience retirement
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RETIREMENT MATTERS FOR MINISTERS
A report on a research project into how
Baptist ministers experience retirement
Paul Beasley-Murray
Published in 2018 by The College of Baptist Ministers
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RETIREMENT MATTERS FOR MINISTERS
A report on a research project into how Baptist ministers
experience retirement
© Paul Beasley-Murray 2018
All rights reserved
ISBN NUMBER 978-1-9165035-0-2
First published in 2018 by The College of Baptist Ministers
Company Limited by Guarantee number 8419543
registered in England and Wales at
1 Mimosa Close Chelmsford CM1 6NW.
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This booklet is dedicated to my fellow retired Baptist ministers.
I wish too to express my appreciation to all those who filled in
the questionnaires – and in particular to the seventeen ministers
who allowed me to conduct lengthy interviews with them.
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CONTENTS
Introduction 9
1 Encounters With Ministry ‘Heroes’:
A Report On 17 Interviews 15
2 The Retirement Experience:
An Analysis Of The Data 49
3 Retired Ministers Matter! A Challenge
To The Baptist Union Of Great Britain
And Its Associations 99
Appendix: The Raw Data 109
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INTRODUCTION
A dearth of writing on how ministers experience
retirement
Although there are many books written on ministerial
retirement from a North American perspective,1 there is little
from a distinctively British perspective. The only book I have
come across in the UK is Pastors under Pressure: Conflicts on
the outside, fears within by James Taylor, a Scottish Baptist
minister, who devoted a third of a more general book on
ministry to retirement issues. 2
The journal of the Baptist Ministers’ Fellowship – formerly the
Fraternal and now the Baptist Ministers Journal - has in forty
years published seven articles on various aspects of retirement.3
Over a twenty-four year period the journal Ministry Today
similarly published several thought-provoking contributions on
1 For instance: Paul C. Clayton, Called for Life: Finding Meaning in
Retirement (Alban Institute, Herndon, Virginia 2008); Gwen Wagstrom
Halaas, Clergy, Retirement and Wholeness: Looking Forward to the Third
Age (Alban, Herndon, Virginia 2005); Daniel A. Roberts & Michael
Friedman, Clergy Retirement: Every ending a new beginning for clergy, their
families and congregants (Bayswood Publishing Company, 2016; and then
Routledge, London & New York 2017); also Bruce & Katherine Epperly,
Four Seasons of Ministry: Gathering a Harvest of Righteousness (Alban,
Herndon, Virginia 2008).
2 James Taylor, Pastors under Pressure: Conflicts on the outside, fears within
(Day One Publications, Leominster, 2nd edition 2001)
3 Charles Johnson, ‘What can a retired minister contribute to the church?,
Fraternal 167 (May 1973) 3-31; Norman Jones, ‘One man’s retirement’,
Fraternal 190 (January 1980) 19-23; Derek Rumbol, ‘Looking forward to
what is to come’, BMJ 266 (April 1999) 10-13; Anon (Michael Ball?), ‘Release
from ministry: a pre-retirement liturgy’, BMJ 280 (October 2002) 11-12;
David Baker, ‘Adjustments in retirement’, BMJ 293 (January 2006) 25-27;
Philip Clements-Jewery, ‘A retirement retreat’, BMJ 309 (January 2011) 21-
22; David Doonan, ‘Incarnational retirement ministry’, BMJ 313 (January
2012) 19-22.
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retirement. 4 I myself wrote two articles on retirement for
Ministry Today. 5 In addition, I wrote a major section about
retirement in Living Out the Call: Book One Living to God’s
Glory, 6 and devoted some of my Church Matters blogs to the
theme. 7 More recently I have reflected on my experience of
retirement in the penultimate chapter of This is my story: a
story of life, faith and ministry. 8 However, I am conscious that I
was for the most part drawing upon my experience, as distinct
from drawing on any ‘hard’ data.
The purpose of my research
This was the context in which I decided to undertake a survey
of retired Baptist ministers. One of my concerns was that there
appeared to be little pastoral care for Baptist ministers once
they retire. Undoubtedly some retired ministers settle down
happily in a church, where they are well cared for by the pastor.
However, I had come across instances where that was not the
case: retired ministers had told me how marginalised they felt
in their local churches; others I discovered had on retirement
made their spiritual home in a church of another denomination.
4 Jim Hamilton, ‘Do ministers really retire?’, Ministry Today 57 (Spring
2013) 18-22; Paul Goodliff, ‘Approaching retirement’, Ministry Today 57
(Spring 2013) 23-28; Andrew Knowles, ‘Coming in to land’, Ministry Today
59 (Autumn 2013) 17-22; Keith Clements, ‘Seven virtues for retired
ministers’, Ministry Today 63 (Spring 2015) 40-42.
5 See Paul Beasley-Murray, ‘Editorial: Retirement? Not yet!’, Ministry Today
43 (Summer 2008) 4-5; ‘Growing old: some preliminary thoughts’, Ministry
Today 60 (Spring 2014) 36-39.
6 See Living Out the Call: 1. Living to God’s Glory (Feed-a-Read, 2nd edition
2016; also available as an e-book) ‘Ministry beyond Retirement’ 92-99.
7 Paul Beasley-Murray, Church Matters: ‘Retirement wishes’ (1 May 2014);
‘Seven virtues for retired ministers’ (15 January 2015); ‘There is a time to
stand down’ (23 April 2015); ‘Do we ever retire?’ (9 June 2016); ‘A new
ministry’ (30 June 2016); and ‘Retiring Retirement’ (18 May 2017). See
www.paulbeasleymurray.com.
8 This is my story: a story of life, faith and ministry (Wipf & Stock, Eugene,
Oregon 2018).
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But these were all individual stories – as far as I was aware,
there were no statistics upon which to draw.
I was also interested to discover how Baptist ministers
experience retirement in general. James Taylor in Pastors
under Pressure painted a somewhat negative picture of
retirement. It is a picture which I did not recognise. My
experience of retirement has been very positive. But is my
experience of retirement less typical than his? This too was
something which I wanted to explore.
I hoped, too, that my research into ministerial retirement might
prove a help into enabling Baptist churches and associations to
become more effective in the pastoral care they offer to
ministers.
Research methodology
My first thought was to send out a questionnaire to all retired
Baptist ministers in the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
Although a daunting project, I knew from my own experience
that technically such a survey would be possible. 9 However,
after consulting with friends, I was persuaded that a different
approach was needed. Instead of a large-scale ‘quantitative’
research project, I opted to engage in some ‘qualitative’ research
and conduct a series of face-to-face interviews, supported by
some limited ‘quantitative’ research.
9 Over the years I have engaged in three major surveys. While in my first
church in Altrincham I wrote to every other Baptist church with a
membership of 50 or more with a view to testing out Peter Wagner’s theories
relating to church growth: the results of the 350 churches who responded
were analysed and published in Turning the Tide: an assessment of Baptist
church growth in England (Bible Society, London 1981). In my second
church in Chelmsford I conducted a survey relating to the use and abuse of
power in the local church: 141 ministers and 112 church officers from the
mainline Protestant churches responded and the results of that survey were
published in Power for God’s Sake (Paternoster, Carlisle 1998). In my
retirement, with the help of regional team leaders, I sent out a questionnaire
to almost 2000 ministers about their reading habits: over 300 ministers
responded and the results were published in the Baptist Quarterly 49.1
(January 2018).
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After testing a prototype, I produced a lengthy questionnaire
(16 sides of A4) which included a good number of open-ended
questions. My aim in the first place was to use this
questionnaire as the basis of face-to-face interviews with
ministers living in the Eastern Baptist Association, which
covers the area in which my home city of Chelmsford is found. I
ended up having seventeen in-depth interviews, most of which
were two to three hours in length, with Baptist ministers living
in Essex, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Some may be a little surprised
to discover that the seventeen included no women: this simply
reflects the fact that in the Eastern Baptist Association almost
all retired ministers are men.
At the same time, I sent out questionnaires to a larger random
group of retired Baptist ministers who live at a distance from
Chelmsford. This larger group consisted of nine more retired
ministers from the Eastern Baptist Association, and a further
twenty-seven retired ministers from most of the other
associations within the Baptist Union.10 Of the twenty-seven
ministers outside the Eastern Baptist Association, three were
women. In total, including the seventeen questionnaires
completed by the retired ministers who I interviewed, I received
fifty-three questionnaires to analyse.
As at 4 December 2017, there were 896 retired Baptist
ministers in the Baptist pension scheme. If we add those
Baptist ministers not in the scheme, then there must be
somewhere between 900-1000 retired Baptist ministers. In
other words, around a third of Baptist ministers in the Baptist
Union of Great Britain are retired! The 53 respondents
therefore represent just over 5% of all retired Baptist ministers.
To what extent the experience of this sample is representative
10 These 27 came from the following Baptist associations: Central (1); East
Midlands (8); Heart of England (3); London (1); South Eastern (3); South
Wales (2); South West (2); Southern Counties (2); West of England (1);
Yorkshire (2). No questionnaires were received from the North Western and
the Northern associations.
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of retired Baptist ministers is a matter for the statisticians to
debate! 11
The division of the book
The first main section, Encounters with Ministry ‘Heroes’,
contains a summary of the seventeen interviews I had with
retired ministers. In order to keep the identities of the ministers
confidential I have used pseudonyms; I have also been
deliberately vague in giving details relating to their past
ministries and their present circumstances. In most cases the
wives were present for the interviews.
The second main section, ‘The Retirement Experience’ is
devoted to analysing the data from the questionnaires. In terms
of presentation, I have followed advice and adopted the general
practice of putting the ‘raw data’ in a series of tables in an
appendix. For the sake of objectivity, I have sought to ensure
that my comments do not reflect my own views.
The third main section, ‘Retired Ministers Matter’, deals with
results relating to one key aspect of the research. There are
other issues which are also important, some of which could well
have implications for the Baptist Union retirement course.
11 The survey results reflect the whole population with a margin of error of
plus or minus 13% (to a confidence level of 95%). Recognising this, results
have only been reported if they are statistically significant.
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SECTION ONE: ENCOUNTERS WITH MINISTRY
‘HEROES’: A REPORT ON 17 INTERVIEWS
At the heart of the research project were visits to seventeen
retired Baptist ministers resident in Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk
– all within the area covered by the Eastern Baptist
Association. I use the term ‘visits’ advisedly. Elsewhere I speak
of ‘face-to-face’ interviews. However, what really counted was
that with three exceptions the interviews took place within
people’s own homes. After a life-time of visiting others, they
were now receiving a pastoral visit.
In the past as a minister of a local church I rarely spent more
than forty minutes for a pastoral visit. However, on these
occasions I set aside two to three hours for each visit. This was
deliberate. I needed time to connect – or in some cases
reconnect – with each minister, which I did by asking them to
tell me about their experience of ministry. I also needed time to
talk through their responses to my questionnaire, with a view to
discovering the issues which really concerned them. In addition,
I wanted to express my personal thanks to each minister for
their ministry. To each minister I said:
“Even if the whole exercise proves worthless, the visiting of
ministers in their homes will have had value. Although most
ministers will have concluded their ministry with a service of
celebration, I do not believe that their contribution to the life of
our churches has been sufficiently valued. Most ministers have
loved their people and have given of themselves unstintingly to
their people – sadly most past ministers are soon forgotten –
and as this survey goes on to show, a good number of retired
ministers feel forgotten (‘unrecognised’; ‘abandoned’). In my own
right and as chairman of the College of Baptist Ministers I want
to say a massive thank you.”
In reporting on my visits, I do not intend to reproduce all the
information contained in their responses – that is contained in
the subsequent analysis of the questionnaires. Instead I want to
highlight the issues which they thought important. In that
regard it was important for me not to steer the conversations in
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any one direction – but rather to allow the ministers themselves
to speak. Without exception the conversations were wide-
ranging. Yet, as will be seen, often there was a commonality of
theme.
It was a real privilege visiting these seventeen retired ministers
as also their wives (apart from the two who had been widowed).
Without exception they were open and honest with me as they
talked about themselves. But it was more than a privilege – it
was also an amazing experience. For to my surprise I discovered
that each one of them, in their own different way, was a ‘hero’ of
the faith. Perhaps because at the time I was preparing a series
of Bible studies on the Letter to the Hebrews, I was vividly
reminded of Hebrews 11 with its roll call of past heroes of the
faith, and realised that in my visits I was encountering some of
today’s heroes of the faith!
Drawing upon the literary style of Hebrews 11 I wrote: “By faith
they set out in ministry not knowing where the journey would
lead them – by faith they lived in homes not their own – by faith
they offered up their wives and children in the service of God –
by faith they climbed the mountains , but also plumbed the
depths of human experience – by faith they preached the good
news and lived out the life of the kingdom – by faith they saw
their churches grow, but they also saw their churches decline –
by faith they experienced the love of their people, and by faith
they experienced rejection and misunderstanding……”.
Listening to their stories, I was overwhelmed by a sense of
respect and admiration for these ministers who had known
some of the highs, but also some of the lows in Christian
ministry. I remember the day, when in the morning one
minister had told me of how he had been effectively forced to
resign from one church – and then in the afternoon listening to
another minister tell me how he had been sacked from one
church and then had to resign from another church. Neither of
these men were in my judgment problem ministers – rather
they had encountered problem churches – and all too often
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problem leaders.12 In the course of such ministries, many had
been wounded – but in the words of the title of book written
many years ago by Marjory Foyle, they had been ‘honourably
wounded’. 13 Sadly today these ‘heroes’ are unknown to most
today – but thankfully they are ‘known to God’.
One further point needs to be made: it will be seen that none of
the seventeen ministers with whom I met were women. This
reflects the fact that in the Eastern Baptist Association retired
women Baptist ministers are a rarity: – as far as I am aware
there is just one elderly woman minister who began as a
‘deaconess’ in 1952, who retired as long ago as 1987 and is now
not in the best of health.
Anthony
Anthony came into ministry having worked in theatre stage
design and taught art in a public school. He retired at 65 after
over twenty-one years as a Baptist minister. He had two
ministries – and four churches.
In his first ministry his task was to bring two churches
together. There was a good deal of antagonism between the
churches – one in particular had a reputation in the town for
being ‘the church that says no’. It was hard work, but in the end
the two churches came together.
In his second ministry, he had a similar task of bringing
together two churches that “could not stand the sight of one
another”. He felt a real sense of achievement when these two
churches became “one new church”. Unfortunately, the new
church went against his advice and instead of opting to be a
‘neighbourhood’ church surrounded by homes, they refurbished
an old building in the centre of town. In Anthony’s opinion they
12 In Power for God’s Sake: the use and abuse of power in the local church
(Paternoster, Carlisle 1998) 102 I reported that 53% of Baptist ministers
said that their predecessor had left ‘in unhappy circumstances’.
13 Marjorie Foyle, Honourably Wounded: Stress among Christian workers
(Marc Europe 1987). It was primarily written with missionaries in mind –
but it could equally be written of Christian ministers!
18
sold the wrong set of premises and effectively turned their back
on a great mission opportunity.
In spite of good things, both his ministries proved to be highly
demanding – and were characterised by much antagonism
within each church. Anthony found his second ministry the
most difficult – the situation was made more complicated by his
predecessor returning to the church almost every Friday. Not
surprisingly he stated in the questionnaire, “There were good
times, but there were difficult times too”.
Although he and his wife were a warm and outgoing couple, in
none of his churches were they able to make real friends –
instead they had the pain of seeing friendships they thought
they had made being betrayed. Indeed, as Anthony looks back
on his ministerial formation and career, he can only think of one
person whom he can unreservedly trust.
Retirement was traumatic for Anthony – not only did
retirement mean he lost his role, his home, and many of his
possessions (for like most retired ministers he had to radically
down-size when he left the church manse) he also lost his wife
in the week running up to his retirement. The planned service
of thanksgiving for his ministry was cancelled, and instead
there was his wife’s funeral. He still finds it hard to come to
terms with never having experienced retirement with his wife.
As he said to me, “You don’t get over a loss, you learn only how
to cope with it”.
On retirement Anthony moved to be near his daughter, who was
diagnosed with MS just before his wife died. However, when his
daughter moved many miles away with her partner, he decided
to move again to be near the support group of the hospice which
had cared for his wife. He has ended up as an informal chaplain
to the thirty or so people in this support group.
Both his children have had problems with their marriages, with
the result that Anthony feels that he is having to care for them
rather than they care for him.
Financially things are tough. For Anthony’s wife, instead of
pursuing a career while he was in ministry, threw herself into
church work. Anthony’s pension is therefore under £20,000. He
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says that he is “just about managing”. He has a very small
house from the Retired Baptist Minsters Housing Society
(RBMHS), which means that one tenth of his total pension goes
on ‘rent’.
Anthony has got involved in a local church – and has done a fair
amount of preaching for the church. He is “very happy” in the
church, and feels the church is “very supportive” to him. He has
also a host of wider interests – he belongs to a walking group
and to a choir, he has gone to ballroom dancing lessons, he
paints, and he often goes to the theatre or the cinema. However,
after five years of retirement, he is struggling with the question
of “Who am I now?”. He felt he could not answer any of the
questions relating to general reflections on his experience of
retirement. He is still searching for purpose.
Anthony is a man in need of some specialist support – but there
is none. After a lifetime of active engagement with the Baptist
denomination, he feels “forgotten by the wider Baptist family” –
indeed, he says that he has been “abandoned”. He has not had a
pastoral visit or a personal letter or a phone call from his
regional minister – and does not even know the name of the
local regional minister. He is, however, grateful for the support
he receives from the retired ministers group to which he belongs
In addition, he is concerned that Baptists are not taking
advantage of the vast experience represented by retired
ministers: “we have a vast library of gathered ministerial
knowledge that is left untapped for the most part”. It is
important to say that Anthony is not a natural ‘grumbler’ – as I
know from my previous knowledge of him he is a positive,
interesting character, who is not slow to express appreciation.
However, he feels deeply wounded by the lack of support from
the Baptist Union and the Association.
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Ben
Ben is a practical guy and trained as an electronics engineer. In
response to God’s call he started his training for ministry at the
age of 23. Very much a ‘pastor-teacher’ he pastored five
churches.
Ben’s first church was stuck in the past and found change
difficult. When he began there were some fifty-five members,
but under his leadership the church grew. Sadly the next
minister ‘blew the church apart’, and many of those who helped
left for other churches. At that stage, he said, I learnt that ‘the
kingdom’ is bigger than one local church.
His second church was a very happy church which responded
well to his ministry. When Ben was diagnosed with leukaemia,
the church really cared for him.
Ben then moved to a growing market town, where the church
underwent a period of massive growth. This was “the peak” of
his ministry. The youth work was “stunning”, with 80-100
young people at the Sunday services. But for all the excitement,
there was a darker side. A small group of “awkward customers”
gave Ben and his wife “hell”: in their pursuit of power and
control they undermined his leadership and in the process
almost destroyed the church.
Ben moved on again, this time to a much smaller church whose
premises had been burnt down some years previously.
Redevelopment plans had stalled, but with his encouragement
they built a ‘community-style’ building. It was at this time that
Ben’s wife’s health began to seriously deteriorate, and Ben
found himself having to cope with the tension of both pastoring
a church and also caring for a sick wife.
Realising he needed a less demanding church, he moved yet
again and found himself on a rough London overspill estate,
where the members were locked in the past and refused to
change. His wife got worse and suffered a series of life-
threatening incidents: for all that time she was wheel-chair
bound and at one stage had to spend eight months in hospital.
Eventually Ben realised could not remain in ‘active’ ministry,
and so at the age of 63 he retired. Although his wife still has
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major health issues, thankfully she is now on longer wheel-
chair bound, but nonetheless Ben is still her carer
Ben and his wife are now living happily and fruitfully in
retirement. They chose to live in a small town with a lively
church, and with this choice in mind the RBMHS was able to
provide a delightful bungalow – the bungalow cost £17,000 more
than the RBMHS purchase limit, but Ben’s father was able to
plug the gap with the gift of an early ‘legacy’. Ben is very
grateful to God for the work of the RBMHS.
Their combined income is around £25,000 and so they have to
be careful with their money. Nonetheless, by shopping around
say they are “content and comfortable”.
They have made many good friends in their new church – and
have consciously made an effort to develop friends outside the
church. For Ben working on the development and now the
maintenance of new church premises has been a good means of
bonding.
Adjusting to retirement has taken several years for Ben. One of
the challenges he faces is finding the right balance between
making time for others and time for himself and his wife. In
this regard they ensure that Monday is their ‘day off’, when
they have quality time with one another. He says that in
retirement he is still “searching for purpose”, in the sense that
he continues to discover the kind of person that God would have
him be.
They are grateful for the “more than adequate” pastoral care of
the church and for the regular contact they have with other
retired ministers through a group for retired ministers. Ben is
not content with the lack of pastoral support from the Baptist
Union and the association – and, as with many others, has
never had a pastoral visit or personal letter or phone call from a
regional minister. Nonetheless he still feels he is “part of the
wider Baptist family”.
22
Bruce
Bruce began his working life in a family bakery, before
becoming the main buyer for a hardware warehouse. After
training for the ministry, his first church was in a navy town at
the time of the Falklands conflict: he describes it as a busy but
difficult period. He moved on to hospital chaplaincy, where he
enjoyed engaging with ‘normal’ people – as distinct from church
people. This was followed by a spell pastoring two small
churches, ten miles apart, but after eight years the money ran
out and he had to look for another church. In his next church he
initially went “through hell” when he had to stand up to the
bullying tactics of one deacon – but after her resignation things
improved and he led the church through a programme of major
renovation. His last church was a large black church, where he
and his wife were the only white members – he enjoyed the
challenge of pastoring what was in many ways the equivalent of
a Jamaican ‘parish’ church.
Yet although there were high points in every church, in every
church there were also low points, all of which centred around
what Bruce called ‘internal church politics’. His motives were
frequently challenged as he sought to bring about change – “are
you doing this for the good of the church, pastor?” Time and
again people sought to promote their own agenda as he tried to
take the church forward. Bruce loved preaching and pastoring –
but not church meetings! For him ministry “was tough and
often unrewarding”.
After thirty-eight years in stipendiary ministry retirement came
as a massive ‘relief’ – unlike so many of his former peers who
had become casualties in ministry, he had made it safely to the
end. Other emotions included ‘depression’ caused partly by
serious ill-health in the last year of his ministry – in that
respect he did not finish as well as he had hoped. He also
experienced considerable ‘frustration’ because he and his wife
had to stay on an extra seven months in the manse, as they
waited for a RBMHS house to become available.
Retirement has proved a disappointment. To his surprise he has
more time on his hands than he wants – indeed, he would say
that he is “still looking for a purpose” in retirement. He
23
describes ‘boredom’ as the hardest challenge he has faced in
retirement. After almost three years he has yet to “settle”. He
preaches around, but that does not seem to bring him much
satisfaction. He does, however, enjoy helping with a local wild-
life trust, where his voluntary work involves clearing brambles
and putting up fences to look after the sheep.
His local Baptist church has proved less than welcoming. His
wife has had major health issues, but there has been little
understanding on the part of the church. He tells the story of
bringing his wife to a Sunday service in a wheel chair: he moved
one chair to make room for his wife’s wheel chair only to be told
that it was “Mrs so-and-so’s seat”. He therefore went to move
another chair, only to be told that it was somebody else’s seat.
At that point he decided there was no point staying on for the
service!
The last three years have been really tough relating to the
church. Over the past six months they have not been invited out
by any church members – this is strange because I found Bruce
and his wife the most warm of couples. The few ‘friends’ they
have made in the church have been little more than
acquaintances. He feels very much on the edge of the church.
Retirement, he says, “has proved a lonely experience”.
Fortunately he and his wife are beginning to build relationships
with their non-church neighbours. They are also great friends
(“we can drop in on one another without notice”) with an old
ministerial ‘buddy’ and his wife, and in some ways this retired
minister serves as a mentor to Bruce.
Although a member of the local Baptist church, Bruce has
begun to worship more often at a nearby Anglican church,
where he finds greater depth and more stimulation.
Bruce could do with some real support. He has received no
support from any regional minister – no visit, no letter, and no
phone call. Much as he appreciates living in a RBMHS house,
he is surprised he has received no pastoral support from that
organisation either. After a life-time of service in Baptist
churches, he feels discarded. Still a convinced Baptist, when it
24
comes to the wider ‘Baptist family, he now feels “neither one
thing nor another”.
Edward
Edward is a competent, intelligent and reflective minister. In
response to the call of God he turned his back on a promising
chemistry career, and trained for the ministry, in the course of
which he spent a year in the USA.
Over thirty-five years he served in four churches during which
was always a “gear changer”, enabling churches to move on in
their mission and ministry.
His first church was a middle of the road traditional church.
Under his leadership youth work was started and a mid-week
programme was developed. There were conversions and there
was growth: it was a happy church, and a great place to “cut
one’s teeth”.
His second church too proved to be a good experience. Although
Edward is no ‘wild charismatic’, the church began to “move in
renewal”. People young and old came to faith, and the church
really grew. Not all was sweetness and light – some high-
powered commuters were at times were unreasonable in their
expectations. But overall, things went well.
In his third church he experienced conflict and opposition from
a group of leaders who wanted things ‘their way’. It was
Edward’s first experience of people going behind his back to
undermine his ministry and feed others with “distorted and
subversive” information. These leaders called a vote of
confidence in Edward – although he won the vote immense
damage was done. Mediators were brought in at great expense,
but for little gain. Although Edward felt he left well, his wife
found it most difficult – she would have gladly walked out of the
church, had she been able to!
Edward’s last ministry was in a village church with several
hundred members. When he arrived, the church had gone
through a major church split. Edward was able to lead the
25
church forward and helped it to recover. It was for him too a
“really good time”.
Over the past eight years Edward and his wife have found it
difficult adjusting to retirement. They had difficulties with the
house they bought, they were not initially enamoured with their
new church (it took them over six years to become members),
and Edward’s wife in particular missed her old friends
enormously. However, they now have quite a number of friends
in the church, and in the last six months have been invited into
some five homes for a meal. Edward has a “very good”
relationship with the minister and feels the church is now
supportive.
Edward has not had any pastoral visit or personal letter or
phone call from his regional minister; and as far as his
relationship with the wider Baptist family is concerned, he feels
“neither one thing nor another”.
Overall, he says that “retirement has given me new
opportunities to serve God”, both in his local church, as also
through mentoring a few younger ministers.
Their combined annual income is under £20k, but Edward says
“I am comfortable”
Frank
Frank began his working life in shipping – and at one stage was
responsible for booking passages to Australia for the ‘£10 Poms’.
He went to college at the age of twenty-five and ended up
spending almost forty years in stipendiary ministry.
Frank is in his late 70s and has had a range of churches and
appointments. His happiest ministry was his first church,
where he was the first full-time minister for forty years. It was
a “very loving” church. His next church was also a happy
experience – he had the joy of baptising many gifted young
people; but he also had to deal with the fallout of two painful
divorces, as well as cope with all kinds of theological tensions.
After fifteen years he felt he needed a break and moved to lead
a Christian adventure centre, but after two years he was back
26
in local ministry, and over the next thirteen years he pastored
two further churches. Then he was called by his association to
be a superintendent/regional minister. He spent his final three
years as the senior minister of a large Baptist church which
needed an experienced leader to guide them.
When he retired, Frank wanted to live somewhere near to
London, where his children live. Initially all that the RBMHS
could offer was a house 100 miles from London; later the
RBMHS managed to find a house 55 miles from London.
Retirement for Frank has in some ways been a
“disappointment” and he has found it difficult to fit into Baptist
life. The first Baptist church he belonged to in retirement was
still recovering from a church split and was not the happiest of
places; the next Baptist church in the town nearer to London
was in turmoil, with the minister wanting to conduct ‘gay
marriages’. Neither church was interested in what Frank had to
offer. Frank’s experience is that “Baptist churches do not know
how, or even do not want, to welcome retired ministers”. Frank
and his wife now worship in an evangelical Anglican church,
where Frank has a “very good” relationship with the minister.
Although not enthusiastic about the church (it’s “OK”), it has
proved to be supportive and they now “feel quite part of the
church”. They have made friends in the church – and in the past
six months five couples have invited them into their home. In
terms of his relationship with the ‘wider Baptist family’, he now
feels “neither one thing nor another”.
Church apart, Frank has attended study courses linked with
the University of the Third Age; he goes occasionally to the
cinema and the concert hall; and enjoys photography and
building a model-railway. He has also enjoyed a “little travel”.
Frank has a passion for “biblical truth”. Together with others he
has set up an annual ‘Bible convention’ in the town in which
they live. He sees a great need for teaching – house groups are
“inadequate” and offer “little in-depth study”.
As he looks back on his experience of retirement, the best thing
he enjoys is “no pressure on time, or demands on (reduced)
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energy levels”. The hardest challenge he has had to face is
"having something to offer when it is not apparently accepted”.
John
John began his working life in WH Smiths, and then spent six
years as a tailor – he still cuts a dapper figure. After training
for the ministry he pastored six churches, retiring after thirty
years of service at the age of 65.
John first pastoral charge was to care for two churches set in an
idyllic part of the country: one was a growing church with lots of
young families, and the other was a collection of elderly
‘faithfuls’ which ultimately had to close. He then moved to a
more industrial setting, where leading the church proved much
more challenging. Life was made all the more difficult by a
‘narrow-minded’ deacon who was determined to wreck the
church’s ecumenical partnership.
John’s next appointment proved a tough assignment. Called to
be an associate minister in a larger Baptist church, the senior
minister seemed to have no idea of what team ministry was all
about, and often undermined and even bullied his colleague.
The weekly team meetings became a nightmare – and without
supportive friends in the church, John might not have kept
going. Even now, many years later, John can vividly recall some
of the details of that time – how upset his wife was, and how
angry he too eventually became.
Thankfully his final two churches proved much happier. There
still were problem people, but he was blessed with good
deacons. As he looked back on his ministry, he said that “for the
most part” his experience of ministry “was rewarding, but there
were tough times too”.
Retirement for John proved initially somewhat traumatic.
After having given unstintingly of himself in ministry, in which
he had shared his life with his people, he felt a massive loss of
identity. It was not so much a loss of status, but rather the loss
of a role. Even now, happily settled in a local church, he asks,
“Who am I?” In one of his responses he said: “I am still
searching for purpose”. In many ways he lives a full life: not
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only is he active in the church, he also often goes up to London
to visit a theatre or an art gallery, or to listen to a concert. Keen
on photography, he also belongs to a local male-voice choir.
However, he struggles to know how God would have him use his
time.
In terms of pension he and his wife receive in total less than
£20,000. If his wife had kept up her career, they would now be
receiving a considerably pension – but instead she became a
‘full-time” minister’s wife. They say, however, they have
“enough to live on”. They are particularly grateful to the
RBMHS for the bungalow they live in – and for the “security”
which it brings to them.
With sadness he admits that he feels “forgotten by the wider
Baptist family” and is disappointed he has received no pastoral
visit or personal letter or phone call from his regional minister.
He would like to see retired ministers included in the
Association directory of ministers and churches – and for retired
ministers to be given a copy.
Lee
Lee is one of the happiest retired ministers I have met – not
least because he received a legacy of £100,000 which together
with a small mortgage enabled him to buy a delightful cottage.
Before he became a Baptist minister, he had a property – but
sold it to finance his training for ministry. From his knowledge
of other ministers, he is aware of the financial struggles many
retired ministers experience. He would love to see churches
enabling their ministers to make provision for their retirement
– but sees no easy answers to how this might be achieved.
Lee is also blessed because he has settled very happily into his
local Baptist church. He is involved in house groups and ‘gets
his hands dirty’ by helping with the coffee rota. In the last six
month eight couples have invited him and his wife into their
homes for a meal – the folk in this local church appear to be far
more hospitable than were his previous churches.
Lee had ten years in accountancy, before training for the
ministry. During almost thirty years of ministry, he had three
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churches. His first ministry was tough because the church had
lots of money in the bank, but little sense of mission. The
church was comfortable, and simply wanted Lee to be its
chaplain. So after just three years, Lee decided to move to a
church which shared his vision for reaching out to the
community.
His second church was probably his most enjoyable. As minister
of an estate church in a rapidly growing new town, Lee had an
effective ministry to young families and young people and
experienced substantial growth.
His third church was the most challenging. A large established
church it went through major leadership changes, and much
church meeting time was devoted to church matters, rather
than to ‘kingdom’ matters. There were some low points, which
included “church ‘politics’ vying for power and position and
experiencing bullying”; “taking decisions for the good of the
church the reason for which could not be shared with the wider
church and being misunderstood”. Things were tough – and Lee
says that without a real sense of call and the public affirmation
of that sense of call in ordination, he might well have come un-
stuck. In addition, Lee’s early experience of managing an
accountancy office proved helpful and difficulties, many of
which had their roots in an unhelpful leadership structure
developed during the interregnum, were resolved. Lee left his
final church in a good place.
Retirement is also a ‘good place’ for Lee. He and his wife are
delighted with their new home, set in a quiet spot in the centre
of the town. Although their combined income is less than
£30,000, they are living within their means and are
“comfortable”.
In addition they feel “very much part” of their new church. They
received a warm welcome and have already made a number of
friends. They have been encouraged to use their gifts, with the
result that Lee preaches in the church from time to time and is
leading an Alpha course. They attend church meetings and
“share generally in the life of the church”. Lee has a “very good”
relationship with the minister, who is secure in himself and
does not find having a retired minister in his church a threat –
30
Lee commented that difficulties arise when the pastor has a
‘frail ego’.
After years of being out almost every night on church business,
Lee is keen now to do things together with his wife in the wider
community. They have joined the local Arts Society, and Lee is
exploring the possibility of becoming a Rotarian.
Since retiring Lee has not had “a pastoral visit or personal
letter or phone call” from his regional minister. However, that
does not worry Lee. He and his wife feel cared for in their new
church. Although previously highly involved in denominational
life, Lee feels somewhat disillusioned now. In terms of feeling
part of the wider ‘Baptist family’, Lee says he feels “neither one
thing nor another”.
For Lee, the best thing about retirement is “not having
responsibility and freedom to choose activities and plan the
day”. The hardest challenge is “relaxing and thinking I’m not
wasting time”. He is still passionate about “seeing people reach
their full potential in Christ”.
Leslie
Leslie still has great energy and drive. Before training for the
ministry he spent ten years in accountancy, and perhaps as a
result has always shown great entrepreneurial flair.
Leslie served for over thirty years in stipendiary ministry – and
then after eleven years of retirement (where he became church
secretary of his local Baptist church) he went back into pastoral
ministry for a further four years, finally retiring only because of
his wife’s health.
Leslie looks back on a life that has been “exciting, challenging
and very rewarding”. All his ministries, he says, have been
good, but none matched his first church, where he had a
“brilliant” all-round ministry: the church grew substantially
and became involved with people suffering with mental health
problems with Leslie setting up a small housing association
with nineteen properties. There were “no low points” in his first
church!
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Leslie moved on for a brief while into a denominational position
– there it was not church members, but some ‘area
superintendents’ (precursors of regional ministers) who gave
him problems. On his return to pastoral ministry, Leslie went to
a struggling city centre church for a few years – although people
came to faith, the church never grew. He was also chaplain to a
number of shops, to the local university, and to a branch of Age
Concern – a “low point” was the failure of the church to own his
chaplaincy work. At the same time he sought to engage in an
ambitious redevelopment of the church premises, but things
went ‘pear-shaped’ and with his blessing the church terminated
his employment.
His toughest ministry was his retirement pastorate, where the
local vicar banned him from the church school and where some
members left the church because of his outward-facing ministry.
This was a period when there were “good times, but also
difficult times too”.
Now in his second retirement, he misses people. He misses too
“the visionary side of the ministry – discovering what is
possible, and then seeking to make it a reality”. However, the
most difficult aspect of retirement is his wife’s health – she
needs full time care, and so, after fifty seven years of marriage,
Leslie is living the life of a bachelor again.
As a result of some shrewd financial moves, Leslie had made
some considerable savings. However, now he has to find £1,100
per week for nursing home charges. Nonetheless, he says “I am
comfortable”.
Leslie is a very positive person, even when now life is very
challenging. He says he is “very happy” in the church, and finds
the church “very supportive”. Indeed, he feels “very much part
of the church”. Yet in my judgement the church has been
anything but supportive. He says that he has “more than a few”
friends in the church, but this ‘friendliness’ seems skin-deep.
The two ministers have visited him, but nobody else from the
church has. He leads two home groups, but no member has
invited him for a meal. What is true of the church is true of
people outside the church. Last Christmas he invited all his
neighbours to drop by – but apart from one person, nobody did.
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Not surprisingly, he notes that “retirement has proved to be a
lonely experience”.
His greatest need is “the need to be used”. A church member for
less than a year, he is already a deacon. Even although he is
almost eighty, he is preaching in local churches and is looking
for opportunities to get involved in the association. He is a real
Caleb!
I came away from his home full of admiration for Leslie, but sad
for him too.
Paul
Paul’s call to ministry came through a sermon on Jeremiah
preached by my father. At the time Paul was in his late teens
and had already tried his hand at two or three jobs. He
immediately went to Bible college, but at the end of the course
was turned down by the area ministerial recognition committee.
Paul, however, persevered, and with the help of the area
superintendent found himself in charge of a small Baptist
church on a tough council estate where there was no manse and
a ‘stipend’ of £7 per week. For the next three years Paul was a
‘bi-vocational’ minister. travelling a twenty-mile round trip
three days a week to support his wife and first child – and
working in the church all the other hours of the week. The
church grew rapidly – helped not least by the arrival in the first
six months of four other young couples keen to serve the Lord.
It was hard work – not least having to produce two sermons a
week and a weekly Bible study in the midst of everything else.
After six or so years – which included a year at a Baptist college
and gaining formal accreditation – Paul moved on to an even
more challenging assignment, where twelve church members
were “a constant potential for tension and creating difficult
issues”. The deacons were well-meaning but weak, and church
meetings were a nightmare. Nonetheless Paul had the courage
and strength to challenge the power-brokers, and change
became the order of the day. Over the ten years the church
flourished and young people abounded – with around a dozen
baptisms every year.
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In his third ministry lasting over twenty years Paul had the joy
of seeing a medium-sized multi-cultural church with one
minister grow into a very large church with a team of three
ministers, five worship groups, and two part-time pastoral
workers, engaged in a wide range of service, including a five-
day-a-week pre-school and several luncheon clubs. Yet in spite
of all the positives, there were low times too – not least the
suicide of an assistant minister. Strangely, throughout almost
all of his time there he had no effective church secretary – most
of the administration load fell on him. Not surprisingly when
Paul retired he experienced ‘joy’ and ‘relief’ – he was free at
least of all that admin! Retirement for Paul has meant learning
to live again, rather than be “run ragged”. For him an
important part of retirement is ‘play’ – “yes, yes, yes” he wrote.
As he looked back he said: “I count it a great privilege to have
been called into the ministry and have been stretched and
grown as a person through my experience of being in ministry. I
do not feel I have emerged from ministry unscathed but rather
honourably wounded as part of the price one pays of doing a job
that involves dealing with difficult situations and people, along
with making visionary decisions others may challenge but are
right to make if the church is to develop in the future.”
Unfortunately, his two children paid the price of being ‘children
of the manse’ and are no longer to be found in a church.
Financially more comfortable than many retired ministers, Paul
attributes this to his not being in the Baptist pension scheme!
He and his wife’s combined income is under £40,000, and he
says they “have no money problems”.
Paul and his wife are involved in their local Baptist church
where they have many ‘friends’ (acquaintances?). However,
Paul is unhappy in the church: in spite of his offers of help, he
feels ignored – the church is willing for him to preach, but fail to
see that they can gain from his experience. Perhaps related to
this is that he has found it difficult coming to terms with the
loss of status in retirement. “I’m both challenged and amused by
this experience, which I thought would not be an issue for me
who did not count ministry as a kind of status symbol”.
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Paul no longer attends the church meeting and feels “very much
on the edge”. On a Sunday he is “content to be an ordinary
‘punter’ in the pew – except when the preacher produces an
essay to be read – “What has happened to the old Baptist art of
preaching in a flowing style, engaging with the congregation as
one does so?” he asks.
Paul has a passion for “helping men to relate to church”. He has
set up a golf club for Christian men and their friends, and is
also involved in various church men’s groups. Another passion
is gardening, which gives him many opportunities for
conversations with people passing by. Paul and his wife have
worked hard on taking the initiative to build relationships with
many of the neighbours in their street.
I found it interesting that although in the first years of his
retirement Paul was very involved in mentoring young
ministers, he himself has never seen the need for a mentor in
his retirement.
Like many of his peers, Paul’s relationship with the Baptist
Union and its regional ministry is non-existent. He has never
had “a pastoral visit or a personal letter or a phone call” from
his regional minister. When asked, “are you content with the
support your currently receive”, he replied “What support?” It is
only because of the retired ministers’ group to which he belongs,
that he still feels “part of the wider Baptist family”. Even then,
his retired ministers’ group is not ideal – too much time is spent
reminiscing on the past, rather than building supportive
relationships for the present. Although he is very much an
outgoing character, ministry, he says, can be “a lonely road”.
Paul seems to have only one ministerial ‘buddy’ with whom he
remains in touch.
I came away thinking, “I would have enjoyed being one of his
members – he would have stimulated me”.
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Robin
Robin was a banker for ten years before training for the
ministry – every now and again his wife wishes he had
remained in the bank, where the prospects were bright and a
good pension was guaranteed. As it is, they are “just managing”
on a pension of £14,000.
Robin served for almost thirty years in ministry. His first
pastorate was in Scotland – when he arrived congregations
numbered around 30-40, but by the time he left they had risen
to around 50-60. There was much spiritual growth too.
However, after seven years Robin had to resign as a result of
bullying– and all his deacons resigned too in solidarity with
him. As he discovered to his cost, this church had a history of
abusing pastors – two of the three previous pastors had left the
ministry altogether, with a third having to seek pastures new.
After a difficult five-month period of unemployment, Robin was
called to a church with over one hundred members in the
Midlands. It proved a fruitful twelve years, characterised both
by numerical and spiritual growth, but one deacon took against
him and threatened to call a vote of non-confidence. For the
sake of the unity of the church, Robin agreed to seek to move –
but found it difficult to find another church. Rather than fight
his corner at the church meeting, Robin took the course of
encouraging his supporters to vote for his dismissal, which then
made him eligible for benefits!
It was only after eighteen months of unemployment that Robin
was called to his third and final church. Those nine years were
happy years of ministry – so much so that the church wanted
Robin to delay his retirement, but after all he had gone through
Robin decided he had had enough.
The pain of ministry is still with Robin – and with his wife, who
following all the difficulties for two years had to take anti-
depressants. As Robin said. “we were treated worse by
Christians than by unbelievers”. Not surprisingly, when he
retired, his emotions were a mixture of ‘joy’ (“I’ve finished”) and
‘relief’ (“it’s all over!”). In spite of everything Robin says that
“for the most part ministry was rewarding, but there were
36
tough times”, and if he had the opportunity to begin life again,
he would still want to be a Baptist minister – and his wife
agrees!
Retirement has not been easy. The town to which they moved
does not have a church in membership with the Baptist Union,
and so he and his wife joined a ‘Grace’ Baptist church which
subsequently joined the FIEC. He feels like “an ecclesiological
alien” there, and not surprisingly feels “ignored” and is “treated
with suspicion”. He has no close church friends. Although his
wife is fairly involved, he is less so, and spends much of his time
at home reading voraciously. He reads through the Bible at
least annually. This past year, influenced by two monastic
communities, he divided the day into seven ‘offices’, and reads a
chapter of the Bible at 6 am, 9 am, 10.30 am, 12 noon, 3 pm and
5.30 pm.
Robin “no longer” feels “part of the wider family” – he “feels
forgotten by the Baptist family”. He twice wrote to the local
regional minister, but never received a reply – he even wrote to
the regional minister’s secretary to ensure that his letters had
been received, but again received no reply. Like other retired
ministers in his association he received a questionnaire asking
whether he would be willing to preach in churches in the
association or serve as a moderator. Robin, whose passion is
preaching, filled in the questionnaire offering his service – but
like many others, he heard no more.
It would mean a lot to him if his past ministry could at least be
recognised by the wider Baptist Union. He commented on how
newly accredited ministers are welcomed by the President at
the annual Baptist Assembly – but then the next time a
minister’s name is mentioned at the Assembly, is after their
death. He wondered whether ministers on retirement could
receive a formal thank-you and a handshake at the following
Assembly.
Retirement for Robin “has led to a restriction in life” and has
“proved a lonely experience”.
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Roger
A former primary school teacher, over the years Roger has had
three churches.
At the age of twenty-three he became a student pastor of a
small church in a rough urban area – only in this way could he
have enough money to survive.
After college he moved to a church where, apart from one young
couple, all 120 members were elderly. In his six years he buried
half his members, but the membership remained roughly the
same thanks to all the young people and young families who
joined. Although he felt he needed to close down the Brigades
and shut a small struggling ‘mission’ associated with the
church, nonetheless it was a time with no real difficulties.
Rather it was a time of church ‘regeneration’ when many came
to faith.
Much more challenging and demanding was his third church,
where he stayed for twenty-five years. Roger was the church’s
first minister. When he arrived, the church had some 40
members – when he left there were 200 members and perhaps a
further 300 people on the fringe. He experienced a time of
“mini-revival” as whole families came to faith – “we sensed a
move of God in our community”. In that time the church went
through four different “manifestations of church”. Under his
leadership the church acquired and renovated a large
community centre. He says he never had a difficult church
meeting – but there were many difficult people, some with
massive pastoral needs. Although there were five paid members
of staff, Roger was the only pastor. As a result, toward the end
of his ministry he became exhausted – “the cracks began to
show” – and he retired at the age of 57.
Roger was able to retire early because he already had his own
house – there had been no manse in his third church. With the
help of a legacy and a gift from relatives, together with a degree
of financial astuteness, he and his wife’s combined income now
is under £40,000.
Roger is a bundle of energy. A hard-working magistrate who
oversees the recruitment and interviewing of new magistrates
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as also dealing with disciplinary issues, he writes a good deal
and is in demand as an after-dinner speaker. The best thing
about retirement, he says, is “the freedom to actually say ‘No’ to
something and not feel guilty”. He takes off Wednesdays, so
that he and his wife can have time together.
His local Baptist church is “fairly dead”, and so he and his wife
now worship in their local parish church. A strong evangelical
church, there are plenty of activities for young families –
however, Roger “along with the other over-fifties” feels
currently ignored. They have made “a few friends” in the
church, but as Roger admits, they are often away because of
preaching or family commitments”. Instead of mentoring
younger ministers, Roger has mentored older ministers:
currently he is helping a retired minister who struggles with
the reality of retirement.
Roger did receive a visit from his regional minister – but only
because he asked to see him. “It was a waste of time”, said
Roger. “Instead of listening, he talked about himself”. Roger is
“profoundly concerned that there is an enormous need in our
retired ministers which is disregarded, and a resource in our
retired ministers which is largely ignored”. He went on: “I know
that there are retired ministers who are a ‘pain’ in that they are
always talking about ‘the good old days’. However, there are
large numbers of us feeling puzzled, ignored, and rankly
undervalued”. Not surprisingly, he feels “no longer part of the
wider Baptist family”.
Rowland
Rowland did national service (RAF) and worked in industry
before starting to train for ministry at the age of twenty-four.
He is a ‘battle-scared’ older minister who in almost forty years
of service had three tough ministries. In each of them he saw
growth, but not one was easy. In his first ministry his colleague
had a breakdown, and his predecessor committed suicide.
His second church was on a huge council estate where he
enjoyed an “excellent children’s ministry” – alas the church was
39
always short of cash and for much of the time the church was
stuck in a legal dispute.
His lowest point was in his third church when a small group in
one of his churches tried to oust him – not surprisingly the ‘in-
fighting’ took its toll on the church’s outreach to the wider
community. However, he looks back with fondness on his time
as a pastor – and if given an opportunity would still want to be
a Baptist minister. High points for him were meeting people,
worship and teaching, visiting and caring for people, and
working in the community. Rowland has clearly been a hard-
working ‘old-school’ minister, much respected by his church
members.
His and his wife’s combined pensions come to less than £20,000,
but they feel “comfortable”. In his first eight years of retirement
he supplemented his income as a taxi-driver. Rowland is
grateful to rent a property from the RBMHS.
Retirement has not been easy. The minister of his local Baptist
church refused to receive him and his wife into membership:
“there is no place in this church for you”, he said – did he feel
‘threatened’ by Rowland? This was a painful experience and
Rowland has never found a permanent spiritual home in
retirement - he tends to worship in a local Anglican church,
where he has a good relationship with the vicar, but also
worships at a local independent evangelical church. His wife,
however, became joined the women’s meeting at the Baptist
church.
In his retirement he has continued to preach and lead Bible
studies. He has found particular fulfilment in working as a
volunteer for two mission agencies. For many years he has also
been an active Rotarian. He works in a wide variety of
community projects – amongst others he serves as a school
governor and paints airplanes at Duxford. Along with preaching
and leading worship, he says that his passions are family,
airplanes, trains and buses.
An outgoing man with a great sense of humour, Rowland has
lots of ‘casual’ friends (acquaintances) but no close friends. In
40
the last six months no church person has invited him and his
wife into their home.
In the last year or so his wife has become seriously ill, and he
has had to become a carer. Although his wife spent many
weeks in hospital, she received no visits from any Baptist
minister – Rowland found this lack of care an upsetting
experience. Fortunately, his children have been supportive.
Throughout his active ministry Rowland was highly committed
both to the Baptist Union and to association life, but since
retirement he has not had a pastoral visit or a personal letter or
phone call from any regional minister. He now no longer feels
part of the wider Baptist family. As he said, he would love to
have some acknowledgement that “we still exist”. The demise of
the Baptist Directory and the omission of retired ministers from
the Association handbook troubles him. He is sad that the
association does not want to take advantage of all the
experience retired Baptist ministers have to offer.
Sam
Sam left school at the age of fifteen to go into the family
farming business – and when they married his wife had no idea
that they would end up in ministry. However, she did know that
Sam was considering the possibility of becoming an agricultural
missionary, but when she began to have some health problems,
the door to overseas mission shut. Then, much to Sam’s
surprise, God called him into ministry!
A relatively late entrant, Sam served just under twenty years in
stipendiary ministry. Both his churches were challenging, and
both churches were small and struggling. Sam ended up not
just “sowing the seed and caring for people”, but also caring for
the buildings, serving as treasurer, and in one church also
serving as church secretary. Sam was very much a ‘Jack-of-all-
trades’. He lists as his highlights baptisms and sharing as a
pastor in significant events in the lives of others. The low points
have been a sense of isolation, assertive deacons, marriages of
church people breaking down. Reflecting on his experience of
41
ministry, he said “there were good times, but there were
difficult times too”.
For family reasons Sam has stayed on in his last church and
still feels “quite part of the church”. He has developed a good
relationship with his much younger successor. Although Sam at
times plays the role of a mentor to him, he is quite clear that he
is spiritually accountable to his minister.
By contrast with many Baptist ministers, Sam is comfortably
off and together with his wife has a combined income of under
£50,000. He was able to buy his present house because he had a
house before he became a minister. His finances were helped by
his wife having had for a period a well-paid job. However, Sam
is amazingly generous. He gave a gift of £50,000 to his church to
help it out of a difficulty – even although his only child, now in
his twenties, will always need support. What’s more, to save the
church money, he works a good number of hours a week as the
church’s cleaner – he is also the treasurer of the church! But
then, Sam says that the best thing he enjoys about retirement is
that he can work “for love rather than pay”.
Sam still misses being the minister of a church. Although
relieved no longer to have the responsibility of leadership, he
misses “the privilege of expressing my convictions relating to
the gospel and discipleship”.
Sam has a servant-heart and even in retirement is always
getting his hands ‘dirty’ in his service of the church – and of
others. I was therefore saddened to see that that in the last six
months no church member has invited him and his wife into
their home for a meal. Indeed, he says that he has only “a few”
friends in the church. One of those friends is a retired Baptist
minister, who has been very supportive to Sam.
In his retirement Sam has received no support from his local
association or the wider Baptist Union – although typical of
Sam, he expresses gratitude for his Baptist Union pension. He
has not had any contact with any regional minister during the
seven years of his retirement. Nonetheless because he was born
into a Baptist home, was converted in a Baptist church, and is a
42
convinced Baptist himself, Sam says he still feels “part of the
wider Baptist family”.
Sam is one of the most self-deprecating Baptist ministers I
know – and yet I would honour him in the way in which he has
lived out the ‘ministry of the towel’ (John 13).
Simon
After a brief spell as a trainee buyer, Simon began training for
the ministry at the age of twenty-one, and served over forty
years in stipendiary ministry. Of his six churches, his first was
far and away the happiest: in the seven years the church grew
from 19 to 109 members. His next church also experienced
much growth and there were many baptisms, but his ministry
was marked by tensions associated with charismatic renewal.
His third church proved a disaster and lasted only five months –
the church failed to provide reasonable accommodation for his
family, and after a good deal of ‘nastiness’ Simon was given
notice. In the process, the children suffered, with one of them
attending four different schools during that period. Fortunately.
Simon’s next church proved a much more positive experience,
including a great youth group for Simon’s children –
nonetheless “there were moments” of difficulty. Simon got on
very well with his fifth church, until two female members of
staff fell out with him: rather than allow their deteriorating
relationships to split the church, Simon felt it best to resign.
After all the pain, his final church proved a healing experience
and enabled Simon to end ministry well. All in all, “there were
good times, but there were difficult times too”.
I do not understand all the difficulties which Simon
encountered, but from my experience of Simon I know he is not
a man who by nature finds it difficult to get on with people. He
is a very sociable and easy-going person. True, he admits there
were times when he made mistakes, but this is not the reason
why so much went ‘pear-shaped’ in his ministry. In the light of
all the ups and downs they experienced, Simon’s wife would not
be keen to be a minister’s wife again – she has had enough of
the pain.
43
They are now happily settled in a new home – the purchase of
which was made possible by another family member coming to
live with them. With a combined income of under £30,000 Sam
and his wife say they “enough to live in”.
The first year or so of retirement was not easy. Simon found it
difficult settling down as an ordinary church member. For the
first four months they went to one lively church, but never
received a welcome – none of the leaders seemed to want them.
Eventually, they joined another Baptist church – but even there
Simon felt kept on the periphery. At this point Simon decided to
return to ministry on a part-time basis.
Unfortunately, his part-time pastorate does not really bring him
the sense of fulfilment he looked for. True, after a devastating
experience of a previous pastor, who almost destroyed the
church, the congregation has begun to grow – from four to
sometimes twenty people on a Sunday. But neither Simon or his
wife have been able to make friends in the church – and nobody
from the church has invited them into their homes for a meal. I
wonder how long Simon will stay there. Maybe he needs to find
interests beyond the local church.
Simon and his wife were very involved in denominational life
prior to Simon’s retirement, but they now feel unsupported by
the present regional ministers. When asked, “how much do you
feel part of the wider Baptist family”, Simon could only say, “I
feel neither one thing nor another”. Simon is still at the stage of
retirement when he feels he has much to give to Baptist church
life – but his offer of help appears to be unwanted.
Tom
Tom spent fourteen years as a ladies’ hairdresser, which he
maintains was a great preparation for ministry. His call to
ministry was gradual – before going to college he ran a
Christian conference centre for five years, and served as a lay
pastor for a further three years.
His first church was difficult. A large village church dominated
by one family, it was extraordinarily inward-looking. Church
meetings proved “horrible” as, without success, he sought to
44
bring about change. Although the church was sorry to see him
go, after three years he felt he had no other option but to move
on.
His second church had its difficulties but was a much more
positive experience – so much so that he stayed for twenty-eight
years. There were many conversions and baptisms, and new
church premises were built. Under his ministry the church
became a thriving ‘community’ church. At one stage the work
amongst children and young people was so successful, that
there were ‘waiting lists’ – although if children and young
people came on a Sunday, they were fast-tracked into the mid-
week programme. In spite of the evident blessing, ten years into
his ministry two deacons asked him to leave – fortunately the
church rallied round, but the way in which his position was
challenged proved a very low point.
As he looks back on his ministry, he says that “for the most part
it was rewarding, but there were tough times”. Had he the
opportunity, he would want to be a Baptist minister again – but
for him “a very strong call” is vital to surviving in ministry.
His two key emotions in the first months of retirement were ‘joy’
and ‘relief’. The joy came through having “gone through the
tape”. His mission was accomplished. Unlike many of his peers,
who had not survived in ministry, he had “made it”. He also
experienced a great sense of ‘relief’: although he missed the
people, he was delighted that the “pressures” of ministry were
over – he was a free man at last!
Tom and his wife celebrated their new-found freedom by taking
“a gap year” before settling down into retirement. The gap year
included six months of touring the country by caravan.
For family reasons they still live in the same area as their last
church. They have moved from a large four-bedroomed church
manse into a much smaller two-bedroomed house bought for
them by the RBMHS – into which they had to plough some
money of their own. Financially, with a combined income of
under £30,000, they “have enough to live on”.
Tom and his wife now worship at their local parish church,
where the rector has made them warmly welcome. He finds the
45
difference between the parish church and a Baptist church is
“refreshing” – he has come to enjoy the Anglican liturgy. The
rector sees Tom as a valuable pastoral resource, and so Tom
preaches in the church regularly and leads a home group. There
are seven or eight retired Anglican ministers in the church:
Tom appreciates the opportunity to join them for a monthly
study morning led by a retired college tutor. Tom also belongs to
a group for retired Baptist ministers which meets every two
months, and feels well supported there.
Tom and his wife are part of various friendship circles: there
are two couples from their last church with whom they are
close; they have made “a few” friends in the parish church; and
as a result of having got two dogs are developing many friends
in the dog-walking community.
Vic
Vic left school at the age of fifteen with no qualifications to
become a cabinet-maker – now in retirement he enjoys working
with wood again. Responding to God’s call, he went to a Baptist
college and then served for almost forty years in stipendiary
ministry.
The first eleven happy years were spent in an estate church
which grew from 12 to 82 members, and where over 300
children belonged to the Sunday School. God really blessed his
ministry. To the amazement of all his friends he then moved to
a town-centre church which was threatened with closure: the
congregation was elderly and the buildings were in a terrible
state. The first five years in his second church were “awful” –
the area superintendent suggested a move, but Vic felt called
and persevered. By the end of his ministry he left a church in
fine fettle. As he looks back upon his ministry, he says: “For the
most part it was rewarding, but there were tough times”. High
points included “baptizing many new members into Christ and
his church, preaching each Sunday, and learning from older
experienced Christians”. Low points included a former minister
who stayed on in membership and who made things difficult for
him.
46
When Vic retired in 1999, his chief emotion was “joy” – he felt
deeply grateful to God for blessing him in ministry and enabling
him to accomplish his mission. He said, “I loved the work of the
ministry and would do it all again”
In many ways retirement has been a good experience for Vic.
Thanks to his wife having had a well-paid job, housing was not
an issue - he continues to live in a large and comfortable
bungalow. With an income of under £30,000 he has “no money
problems”.
Over the years he has enjoyed pursuing a wide range of
interests and hobbies, and has made many new friends outside
the church as a result. He maintains a lively mind: in the last
three months he read two books by Tom Wright, as well as some
non-theological books. Vic is an engaging and positive person,
and I was impressed by his love for his Lord.
His experience of church in retirement has not been so good. He
and his wife joined a Baptist church some four miles away,
believing it to offer opportunities for further service – and even
now in his eighties he still runs a Bible study group. However,
were he not running the group, he would have moved to a local
Anglican church – at the moment he is “unhappy” in the church
and “just hanging on”. According to Vic, his minister sees his
role on a Sunday to be “a stand-up comic” and “never visits”
during the week. Vic speaks of the church members being “very
supportive”, but in the last six months only one member has
invited him into their home. Fortunately, his three married
daughters, all of whom are relatively local, take him out and see
to his needs.
His greatest sadness in retirement is his non-existent
relationship with the wider Baptist family. No regional minister
has ever been in touch with him – not even when his wife died.
As he wrote on his questionnaire, “I would like regional
ministers to know that I exist”. He says “I no longer feel part of
the wider Baptist family”.
47
William
With degrees in classics and theology, William is a thoughtful
man. After teaching for twelve years – including a spell in
Africa – he served twenty-five years in Baptist ministry.
William had three challenging churches. His happiest and
seemingly most fruitful ministry was his first church, where
over twelve years he had the joy of baptizing more than eighty
people – but the first few years were tough, not least when he
felt it right to get back to basics by shutting down all the church
activities apart from the Sunday services and the mid-week
Bible study!
His second church was a nightmare, where a small group of
gifted elders bullied him, failed to provide him and his family
with a manse, and then in the end sacked him. During this
extraordinarily difficult time, William began to suffer from
depression. The pain of that ministry is still real – although
William says he has forgiven his abusers, he cannot forget those
years.
His final ministry was by the sea. The setting was idyllic, but
the church was in a time-warp, and there again there were
difficulties: the organist refused to co-operate and one leader did
his best to oust William.
As William looks back, he says “there were good times, but
there were difficult times”. William regrets the extent to which
his children were affected by “times of extreme tension”. Not
surprisingly William’s first months of retirement were
characterised by a sense of relief. For him the best thing about
retirement is “freedom from pressures of ministry”.
In his retirement William was fortunate to be able to purchase
a house of his own – in part because he had a house before he
became a minister, but also because he had a legacy and a
working wife. They now have a lovely home and are well
pleased to be where they are. With a combined income of under
£30,000, they have “enough to live on”.
He has not been so fortunate in his relationship with his
present church. There he feels unhappy; he has no support, but
instead is treated like any other retired person. He feels very
48
much on the edge. This is strange, because William and his wife
are a delightful couple, whom I would have loved to have as
members of my church. William has offered to help with
preaching and with other pastoral duties, but his offer was
turned down by both the past and present ministers – perhaps
because of their own insecurity, but also perhaps because they
fail to see that retired ministers have anything to offer.
Although William has sought to make relationships within the
church, they have few friends – and in the past six months only
one couple have invited him and his wife into their home for a
meal. William has found a greater depth of friendship outside
the church – not least arising from his work in the community
as a teacher of English as a foreign language.
As for the wider Baptist family, William feels “neither one thing
or another”. He has had no contact from any regional minister.
Thankfully he is happy in the retired ministers’ group to which
he belongs.
49
SECTION TWO: THE RETIREMENT EXPERIENCE:
AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
Gender
Some 94% of those participating in this survey were male. This
imbalance reflects the fact that although the Baptist Union of
Great Britain has had women ministers for over eighty years,
the proportion remains relatively low. 14 There has been an
increase in recent years – currently some 13% of ministers are
women, while of those students training for accredited ministry
some 30% are women; but this increase has yet to reflect itself
in the figures of the retired.
Marital status
Some 79% of respondents were married, with a further 13%
widowed. Some 5% had never married, while the one
respondent who had been divorced commented: “divorced prior
to ordination, but then remarried for 31+ years”.
Age
Although the selection of respondents to the survey was quite
random, nonetheless there was a good representative spread of
ages. For instance the proportion of respondents 75 years and
14 In 1918 Edith Gates became minister of Little Tew and Cleveley,
Oxfordshire, and in 1922 was enrolled as a probationer by the Ministerial
Recognition Committee. In 1924 Violet Hedger became the first female
student to complete her studies at a Baptist college (Regent's Park College)
but did not get a church until 1926 when she went to Littleover in
Derbyshire.
50
over was exactly the same as the proportion of ministers in the
Baptist Pension scheme 75 years and over: viz. 36%.
How old were you when you retired?
In view of the current tendency in the wider world to encourage
people to consider delaying retirement, it was interesting to
discover that over half of the respondents retired at the
traditional age of 65. Only six retired later – with just two
delaying retirement at 70.
How long have you been retired from stipendiary
ministry?
Just over half (56%) had been retired for less than ten years,
with 20% having retired in the last five years. Just over a third
(36%) had been retired between 11 and 20 years. Only around
4% had been retired for more than 21 years – in addition there
was one non-stipendiary ministry who had been retired 16-20
years.
Paid employment since retirement
Just over a quarter (26%) of respondents took up paid
employment after retirement. Three were part-time pastors; one
a part-time hospital chaplain, another a part-time university
chaplain; and one an assistant camp-side warden in the context
of an evangelistic project. Others had been a college tutor, a
mentor, a taxi driver, a translator, and a worker in IT support.
2. PAST EXPERIENCE OF MINISTRY
How many years did you serve in stipendiary ministry?
Most of the respondents in this survey had served for many
years. Almost a third (32%) had served for less than 30 years,
while well over half (62%) had served for more than 31 years.
The table reflects that in the mid to late twentieth century most
51
students training for ministry in Baptist colleges were under 25
– late entrants were rare.
Most respondents spent their active ministry in local church
life, but some had spent part of their ministerial service in
‘trans-local’ ministry: for example, one had been in Christian TV
for a time; another had for eight years combined ministry with
full-time teaching; one had been a superintendent and regional
minister; two had been association general secretaries; two had
served for short terms in Baptist House; three had been
chaplains; five had served overseas as missionaries and/or in a
missionary training college.
Did you have a good experience of ministry?
Almost three-quarters (72%) replied: “For the most part it was
rewarding, but there were tough times”. Only one said without
qualification: “I have had a wonderful time” – however, the
questionnaire revealed that he had known tough times too. A
quarter (25%) however, had known exceedingly tough times and
reported “there were good times, but there were difficult times
too”. Only one said: “It was tough and often unrewarding” – and
none said, in terms of their experience of ministry as a whole “It
was very tough – my ministry was often rejected”. 15
It needs to be borne in mind that this survey was conducted
amongst the ‘survivors’ in ministry. In 2001, for instance, an
analysis of Baptist ministers revealed that over a fifty-year
period (1946-1995) half of those enrolled onto the list of
Accredited Ministers of the Baptist Union of Great Britain did
not retire on it.16 Although the fall-out has decreased
substantially, not least through the way in which ‘newly
15 In Power for God’s Sake, 103 I reported that Baptist ministers in
particular felt there had been times when they had been unjustly treated:
81% mentioned unjust treatment by individual members; 39% unjust
treatment by deacons/elders; and 16% unjust treatment by church staff.
16 See Nigel Coles, ‘Ministry Fallout: Can we afford it? Can we prevent it?’,
Ministry Today 24 (Spring 2002) 22-28. See also Paul Beasley-Murray, ‘The
challenge of ministry today’ in Living out the call:1. Living for God’s Glory
16-18.
52
accredited ministers’ are now cared for, there are still those who
do not ‘survive’ the rigours of ministry.
What were the high and low points?
The high points inevitably varied. However, repeatedly
respondents commented on
• seeing people young and old coming to faith
• the joy of baptising new Christians
• experiencing church growth
• leading worship
• presiding at the Lord’s Table
• preaching every Sunday to the same people
• pastoral visiting and care
• being part of people’s lives
• taking dedications, weddings and funerals
• developing church premises
• working with others
The low points were less varied: one mentioned “having to
confront racism and sexism in otherwise really lovely people”,
four mentioned a wife’s illness; two wrote of difficulties arising
from safeguarding issues; one drew attention of “lack of
finance”, and another to “lack of resources.
However, overwhelmingly the issues raised dealt with politics
and power struggles; conflict and dissension; manipulation,
criticism, gossip, back-biting; resistance to change and resulting
opposition; bullying and aggression from deacons; breakdown of
relationships with other members of a staff team;
misunderstanding and rejection. As one retired minister wrote
ruefully, Baptists are “a fissiparous, argumentative lot!” As a
result some ministers felt they had to resign – others were
sacked; yet others suffered clinical depression and had to take
time off work.
53
If you had an opportunity to begin life again, would you
want to be a minister?
In view of the challenging nature of ministry today, the
respondents were amazingly positive. Over half (57%) said
without qualification that if they had an opportunity, they
would want to be a minister again. “200%” replied one
respondent. Interestingly all three respondents who had come
late into ministry who were particularly enthusiastic: “the best
thing I have ever done”; “I know of nothing else like it”; “I
should have answered the call earlier in my life”. Another
replied with an understanding caveat: “Yes – but with the
wisdom I have gained over the years, and not as a novice”.
In so far as the call of God is at the heart of ministry, 17 it was
not surprising that almost a fifth (18%) added “only if God
called”. Responses included: “the sense of call is vital”; “I am not
sure that I ever ‘wanted’ to be a Baptist minister, it was more
that I was willing if God called me”. One of the older
respondents wrote: “I don’t think I would choose the ministry of
the church as a profession, and I’m sure few would; we would
agree that there has to be a sense of call and of imperative…. I
have to stop myself looking back too often to the earliest days,
how we young men were sent out from college to the hardest of
situations with little or not support.… in those years a lot of my
contemporaries left the ministry, one friend committing suicide
stuck in a fenland situation.”
A quarter (25%) were not sure whether they wanted to enter
ministry again: “a very difficult question to answer”; “probably
yes, though I might approach the whole thing differently”; “yes,
but a career in politics or the law often seemed more attractive”.
Almost a fifth (18%) had reservations about serving within the
Baptist Union as it is today: “present-day Baptist don’t seem to
be what they were”; “Baptists have lost their way”; “it would
depend on the churchmanship of the Baptist church”; “that
would depend on how ‘Baptist church was and is defined, and
how it works – I was wholeheartedly supportive of Baptist
17 See Paul Beasley-Murray, Living out the Call: 1. Living for God’s Glory, ‘A
call to ministry’ 8-11.
54
principles as they were understood and practised and I
committed myself to ministry in the Baptist context”.
Significantly, not one respondent replied with a blunt “No”! 18
Would your spouse want to be married to a Baptist
minister?
Yes: 28
Yes, if called 5
Probably not 5
Unsure 5
No 3
Married only for love 3
Unmarried 3
Widowed 3
She would want to be a minister 1
Too personal 1
Almost two thirds (62%) of spouses appear to have a positive
view of ministry. Over half felt their spouses would want to be
married to a Baptist minister (“provided it was the same one”,
several commented!), a number would only do so if there were a
sense of call – “I wouldn’t choose to do it”, said one. While one
wife said, if she had the opportunity, she would love to be a
Baptist minister herself.
By contrast 25% of spouses had a less positive view of ministry.
Some respondents replied that they were “unsure” while others
thought “probably not”. “My spouse would share my own
18 See the concluding section of Paul Beasley-Murray, This is my Story: a
story of life, faith and ministry: “I thank God for the privilege of having been
a pastor. It is undoubtedly the most wonderful calling in the world. I thank
God for so much happiness and fulfilment in ministry; I thank God even for
the tough times, because they have brought about a depth and maturity
which otherwise I would not have had.”
55
ambivalence in respect of the experience of having been in
Baptist ministry”, said one; “my wife found, at times, the
expectations hard”, said another; “it was a stressful experience”,
said a third.
Almost 6% would definitely not wish to be married to a Baptist
minister: “The expectations were overwhelming”; “Forty years
of ministerial life has taken its toll and while my wife still has a
strong firm faith in God she does not want to be involved in a
Baptist church, or any church for that matter”. One spouse
made the following comments: “the church takes over your
whole life”; “the pay and conditions were not good”; “the
children lost out when the church came first”; “I saw my
husband suffer too much”. 19 Ministry can be tough for spouses.
Almost 6% of spouses married only for love – “and would do so
again, whatever their husband’s job”.
Of those who were widowed, half made no reply, but the other
half responded positively on behalf of their late wives!
Would your children want to be involved again in church
life?
Yes: 18
Some/one would, the other/s not: 8
Unsure 14
No 5
No children 8
A third (34%) gave an unequivocal ‘Yes’. 15% said that some of
their children had had had a very positive experience of church,
while others of their children had experienced “a complete turn-
off in relation to church”. One respondent commented: “one of
our children turned away from church, but not from Jesus
19 See Power for God’s Sake 104: 76% of ministers claimed that their spouses
had experienced “hurt” as a result of their being in ministry; while 55% of
ministers said that their spouse/family had experienced “abuse” as a result
of their being ministry.
56
Christ, because of the mismatch between faith and Christian
behaviour towards me in some leading Christians at a key time
in his life”.
Over a quarter (26%) were unsure: “Who knows? Sadly they are
not involved with church now, but they do have good memories
of some of the things they did as part of a church”.
Almost 10% said their children would definitely not want to be
involved in church life – “they were badly burnt” said one
respondent; another regretted the extent to which his children
were affected by times of extreme tension”; another mentioned
the unhelpful expectations that some church members have of
ministers’ children.
Ministry can be tough for the ‘children of the Manse’.20
3. TRANSITION TO RETIREMENT
Did you receive helpful advice?
While over half (55%) were very positive, a number were critical
of the Baptist Union retirement course, not least because there
were times when the leader of the course had no experience of
ministry. Just over a third (36%) had received helpful advice
from other retired people; and 6% said they had received helpful
advice from a regional minister or a financial advisor.
13% mentioned they had received help from books on
retirement, but none specified the books they had read. In
conversation one minister mentioned Finishing Our Course
20 See Paul Beasley-Murray, This is my story: “There are great advantages to being a PK [Pastor’s Kid] to develop self-confidence and social skills. It’s not surprising that many PKs do well in life and contribute much to society. But life is not always easy for PKs. There are times when churches abuse their pastors, and in so doing they abuse the children too. I fear for leaders of such churches when they have to stand at the last judgment and give an account of the way in which they treated the ‘little ones’ in their care (see Matt 18:6). Sadly, many PKs have been driven out of the church.”
57
with Joy by Jim Packer; 21 another A Good Old Age by Derek
Prime; 22 yet another The Highway Code for Retirement by
David Winter. 23
However, almost two-fifths (38%) said they had received no
helpful advice.
Statistically, it is important to note that some received advice
from more than one source
What weren’t you prepared for and how did you make
the adjustments?
26% said they were “well prepared for retirement” and “found
the adjustment very easy”. Others did not find the transition so
easy.
A sense of loss. Several mentioned how difficult they found
“the loss of role in church life” and the “loss of the close
relationship with the congregation”. “It was like a
bereavement”, said one minister.
A sense of being on the edge. Several mentioned that
churches are not always good at welcoming retired ministers.
“The hardest thing in our new church was coffee-time when we
had to try and make conversation with people we did not know”,
wrote one respondent. “Getting to know people was harder than
we thought”. There was a resulting “loneliness” said another.
An inability to be an ordinary church member. “I was
ready to lay down the responsibilities as a pastor, as the last
two years had been tough and I was exhausted; I didn’t think
beyond that. What I wasn’t prepared for was how hard it is to
feel at home in a local church as an ‘ordinary church member’.
21 Jim Packer, Finishing our Course with Joy: Ageing with Hope (IVP,
Nottingham 2014).
22 Derek Prime, A Good Old Age: An A to Z of loving and following the Lord
Jesus in later years (10 Publishing, Leyland, Lancashire 2017).
23 David Winter, The Highway Code for Retirement (CWR, Farnham, Surrey
2012).
58
I’m coming to the conclusion that it’s impossible. Retirement
from ministry is not like other retirements; you’re still expected
to be involved in what was your job/life (albeit in a different
context.”
An empty diary: I had “so much time on my hands”, said one.
“The phone stopped ringing”, said another.
Disappointment that church leaders did not want to
benefit from their experience. Two mentioned how in an
inter-regnum their church was happy to invite them to preach,
but not to ask for help in the search for a new minister: “my
advice was never sought, my experience though offered was
never tapped”.
The adjustment remains ongoing, said one retired minister: “I
have to still continue to make adjustments it brought, in the
mind and the emotions, because it deeply affects the sense of
personal identity – even with a solid sense of who I am in
Christ”.
If you were speaking to a group of younger pastors, what
would be your advice to help them prepare for
retirement?
The advice varied, but included:
Start early planning: “five to ten years ahead”, said one
minister.
Prepare financially: “start making financial plans”. “get the
finances sorted out”; make sure you have a good pension
scheme”; “make sure you have made adequate financial
provision for your spouse if widowed”. One said: “Start thinking
and planning financially from when you leave college. If at all
possible, try to buy a small property to rent out and grow this
asset over time”.
Develop interests and hobbies: “look for a hobby or interest that
can be developed into retirement”; “develop interests and
hobbies”; “take up worthwhile pastimes or sports.
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Find a new church before a new home: “I am surprised by some
of the moves fellow Christians make on retirement, seemingly
taking little account of their spiritual needs and service”; “find a
church which has a minister, so that you can receive ministry,
rather than needing to minister”.
Accept that church will never be the same: “Don’t expect your
relationship to a church to ever be the same again; don’t feel
guilty about now wanting to be part of a church”.
Develop a strategy for future service: “Think ahead what you
would wish to continue in ministry (at a different pace and
level) and take steps to seize opportunities – if people don’t
come to you, be prepared to take the initiative of offering
particular areas of ministry”. Another advised: “Make sure you
have a reason for getting out of bed”. Other advice included
“retirement means ceasing stipendiary employment and finding
new ways of serving God”; “try to keep up the aspects of
ministry you enjoy, and feel free to drop those you don’t”.
Make sure you know who you are: “Don’t define yourself by
what you do”
What emotions did you feel in the first months of
retirement?
Relief was the overwhelming emotion, mentioned by just over
half (51%) the respondents. Thank God, the pressures of
ministry had ceased – “no more meetings”, wrote one minister;
“no longer having to bear the responsibility”, said another.
Joy was mentioned by two-fifths (42%). This was for the most
part not defined, but several mentioned the joy of “being able to
spend more time with my wife”; another “not having to go out to
meetings every night”; yet another, the joy of “mission
completed”; and another “the sense of a new beginning”.
Loneliness was mentioned by 15%. “I missed people”, said one.
Another mentioned loneliness in the context of not being part of
a ministers’ group: “Who is there to help me with all the
theological questions that have come to me now that I have
more time to reflect on what I really believe?”
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Frustration was experienced by over 7% - this related
particularly to issues surrounding housing.
Depression or “deep sadness” was highlighted over 11%. In
part this related to “disappointment of being disposed of” and
was symptomatic of the loss of role. 24 Perhaps for some there
was also the sadness of not being able to complete all that they
felt God had called them to do? 25 Two other emotions,
unmentioned by the respondents, but related to depression and
sadness, are guilt and regret. A former Baptist Union ‘head of
ministry’, Norman Jones, wrote movingly of looking back on his
ministry and feeling he had misused his time in ministry: “The
diary was the master, good works the order of the day,
everything else secondary; selfishly sacrificed to one’s own ego,
which demanded that you ‘give and not count the cost”.26
Note that some experienced more than one emotion!
24 David Baker, ‘Adjustments in retirement’, BMJ 293 (January 2006) 26
wrote: “Emotionally I see retirement from full-time Ministry like a
bereavement; it is the loss of a role I have been in for a number of years.
Some of the same symptoms are there: numbness, denial, anger/depression,
various questionings about where we are going; then eventually comes real
acceptance. I say ‘real’ because I have had times over the past years when I
thought I had accepted it but then realised I had not done so”.
25 Paul Tournier, Learning to Grow Old (SCM, London 1960) 169-170
maintained that ‘acceptance of unfulfilment’ is one of the great problems of
the retired. He went on: “Of God alone can the Bible say (Gen 2.1) that on
the evening of the sixth day of retirement he had completed his work”.
26 Norman B. Jones, ‘One man’s retirement’, Fraternal 190 (January 1980)
19-20, who continued: “So much has been lost and rarely for the causes I set
out to serve. How much richer that service would have been if I had been a
richer person, if I had observed nature in more detail, if I had developed a
deeper understanding of literature and music, and above all, if I had
observed in greater detail the surprising development of my family. So much
time has been spent in knowing people. So little in knowing them. So much
time in serving God, and so little to become sensitive to his presence. Yes,
there is much to regret about the past, as there is also forgiveness for it.”
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Do you still miss being the minister of a church?
Almost half (49%) said they still missed being a pastor. “I miss
Christmas, Easter, baptisms and people – had I the energy I
would start all over again”; “I miss the close relationship with
people and the opportunity for consistent preaching”.
Almost 6% mentioned how much they missed leading a church –
“I miss being at the centre of things, being the driver of vision
and seeing it unfold, being respected for the position one holds
as the minister of the church and being listened to, being at the
centre of things such as special events. Taking charge of events
and moving them forward rather than sitting on the side-lines
and wishing someone would get a grip of things.” Similarly
another wrote: “I miss the visionary side of ministry –
discovering what is possible, and then seeking to make it a
reality”. Or as one said ‘tongue in cheek’: “I miss being in a
church where everything is done ‘my way’”.
On the other hand, one respondent replied: “Yes – but not the
deacons and church meetings”. Another wrote “I miss it, but at
92 I am content with helping at Bible studies and house
groups”.
A smaller but substantial number (38%) said no: “I have done
my time”; “regular opportunities to be involved in a local church
and preach from time are enough for me”.
4% missed being the minister “a little”. “When I perceive the
existing leadership not doing it very well!”, said one. Or as
another wrote: “Only for short periods…. I miss people I was
close to; I miss having a role sometimes; I miss knowing the
congregation in a way a pastor does”.
9% said both “yes and no”. For instance, one wrote of missing
“being part of a local church in which your contribution is
known” as also “a clear sense of belonging”.
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4. HOUSING ISSUES
For young ministers a church house is often an undoubted perk.
At a stage when most of their peers are in small homes, they
may well have a four if not five-bed-roomed house, with often
one or two receptions rooms. However, when retirement comes,
there are huge problems for many ministers because they do not
have a house. Some therefore argue that manses and the
system of tied housing should be abolished, and that ministers
should be paid a housing allowance to enable them to own their
own home. The fact is that the current system of tied housing
always favours the church, and not the minister – for while the
church continually profits from rising house-prices, the minister
continually loses out. There is, however, one strong argument in
the provision of church manses: it facilitates the moving of
ministers – particularly from lower-priced areas in the North to
more expensive-priced areas in the South. Indeed, without a
church manse, the provision of ministry in many parts of
London would be well-nigh impossible.
It was because of the problem of housing that the Retired
Baptist Ministers Housing Society was set up in 1974 to provide
permanent homes with assured tenancies for accredited Baptist
ministers who had served for a period of not normally less than
fifteen years. Today the RBMHS owns over 250 properties.
Although for some the house provided was not ideal, with one
exception, all of the ministers I interviewed were grateful for
the accommodation provided. They were grateful too for the
relatively small monthly rent which is charged – the rent is
calculated as 10% of a household’s taxable income.
How difficult was the issue of housing for retirement?
Very difficult: 2
Difficult: 4
OK: 17
Easy: 11
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Very easy: 19
It is gratifying to see that over half (57%) found the issue of
housing “easy” or “very easy; while almost a third (32%) found
the process “OK”.
The few (almost 3%) who found the housing issue “very
difficult” attributed their difficulties to the RBMHS: one said
“the RBMHS did not have sufficient houses – hence our going
into part-time ministry in a church that had a small manse”;
another said that the process was “one of humiliation and of
pain because the society is not able to fulfil its role in any
meaningful way”.
Of the almost 8% who found the process “difficult”, 6% went on
to live in RBMHS accommodation: the difficulty encountered by
the latter was because of the ‘ceiling price’ the RBMHS has to
put on the purchase price of a property. For if the Society does
not have an available house in the area in which a retired
minister wishes to live, then it is willing to seek to purchase a
suitable house, subject to a ceiling price related to the cost of an
average house in the UK: in 2018 this is £195,000. For
ministers happy to live in parts of the country where housing is
relatively cheap, this ceiling price provides few problems;
however, in the more expensive parts of the South East can
create real difficulty. True, it is possible for applicants to make
a voluntary contribution and extend the limit of the Society’s
maximum purchase price by up to 25%, but not all ministers
have such financial resources.
On the other hand, 4% of respondents gave the credit to the
RBMHS for making the housing issue either “easy” or “very
easy”. On the positive side, too, a number in conversation with
me talked of the security which the RMBHS has given them –
as one said, even if I were to become a Buddhist, I would not be
ejected!27
27 See also David Baker, ‘Adjustments in retirement’ 25: “Our new situation
gives Pauline and I a sense of security and freedom as it is the first house we
have lived in that is not tied to my work… We have a secure tenancy, and
good support from the RBMHS”.
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In the individual interviews, a number mentioned the emotional
difficulty of ‘down-sizing’. What is not always appreciated is
that most ministers, when they move at the point of their
retirement, have to move to a smaller home, and in the process
lose many of their possessions – including not just furniture but
also many of their books. The latter loss can be quite heart-
breaking!
How did you afford to buy your own home?
I received a legacy from parents/family members 17
My spouse made it possible 13
I had a house before I became a minister: 11
I was helped by my church 3
I had enough money to buy my own house 4
I had enough money to build my own home 1
[Renting from RHBMS 12]
Receiving a legacy was a major factor for a third (32%) of
respondents – and for a quarter (25%s) the help of a spouse was
significant too. It is perhaps of note that almost all the people
who had help from their spouses had also received a legacy.
Just over a fifth (21%) had a house before they became a
minister. Almost 6% were helped by their church to buy a
property
Of the 8% who were able to buy into the property market
without help, half were single at the time; one of them , for
instance, one was able to buy a house in the South Wales
valleys when property was very cheap. One respondent had
enough money to build his own home!
One respondent had a house before entering ministry, but like
many had to sell it in order to finance his ministerial training.
It is important to note that almost a quarter (23%) ended up
renting from the RBMHS. This proportion is not dissimilar to
the national figure of 25% or so (250 out of around 1000 retired
ministers) renting property from the RMBHS.
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On retirement did you move away from your former
community?
87% of respondents moved away from their former community.
The Church of England insists that on retirement all priests
move to another parish “an appropriate distance away”, and
bishops to a new diocese. The Baptist Union also recommends
that a minister move away from the area in which they lived
immediately prior to retirement. However, it recognises that
moving is not always possible or welcome, and that, for
instance, family responsibilities may mean that the minister
needs to stay on.
Some respondents felt strongly that moving away is only the
right thing to do. “I think it is important to make a new start. It
seems unfair to any new minister to stay in the area – church
members may still want to relate to the retired minister”.
Another wrote: “I felt moving away was absolutely right to
enable the church to move forward without any influence from
me. I had suffered in ministry from a retired minister
constantly interfering with what I was doing and I determined
never to do that to someone else!”
Of the 13% who stayed in the same area in which they had
ministered, around 8% are now worshipping in other churches,
but some 4% remain members of the churches of which they
were the minister. In the words of one: “I have been blessed
with two successive ministers at the church who do not see me
as a threat, but as a retired colleague who they can call on when
necessary. If this had been different, remaining where I
ministered for thirty years would have been difficult. I also
know that I, like several of my retired colleagues, would
probably find it very hard to find a different church which
offered worship and service in ways which would feed my soul.”
Another has become a deacon and is the church treasurer – but
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is carefully to observe protocols laid down by the Baptist Union. 28
28 See Paul Goodliff, ‘Approaching Retirement’, Ministry Today 57 (Spring
2012) lists the following protocols:
1. A strictly adhered to ‘sabbatical’ break from the congregation upon
retirement, preferably of at least six months. This helps the ‘leaving and
cleaving’ work of transfer of trust from one pastor to the next. The
retired minister should worship elsewhere. It might be possible in
certain locations for the minister to remain in the same home, or district,
but commit their membership to another Baptist church. Staying put in
a locality does not always mean remaining in the same church.
2. No pastoral work in the church should be attempted by the retired
pastor without the express permission of its new minister. With time,
and confidence in the relationship between the new minister and the
previous one (who is now a church member and the pastoral
responsibility of their successor), opportunities to serve collaboratively
might be offered and indeed welcomed. But the responsibility for this
congregation has passed from the retired minister to their successor, and
unwanted ‘interference’ from the former will prove at best unhelpful, and
at worst toxic.
3. Permission to officiate at funerals or weddings should only be sought
after careful consideration and negotiation. It may be that a church
member has expressed in their will that the retired minister should take
their funeral service, but this must be negotiated with the new minister,
nonetheless. Similarly, when a minister has been in post for many years,
and then retires from a church, whether they remain in membership or
not, those who were young people earlier in that minister’s pastorate
might understandably prefer the retired minister to officiate at their
wedding, but this should be resisted by the retired minister unless their
successor approaches them with particular pastoral reasons why they
wish them to undertake that duty.
4. The same principle must apply to church meeting, where this is the
governmental instrument. Silence is always preferable to a contribution
from the previous minister, and where a contribution is offered, it should
be only ever in support of their successor. Concerns that the retired
minister might have (and there are legitimate circumstances where this
might be so) should not be voiced in public, and only discussed with great
discretion and restraint with, say, the Regional Minister.
5. Permission to remain in membership must be explicitly sought by the
managing trustees of the church and granted by church meeting.
Generally a minister’s membership is attached to their holding pastoral
office, and ceases when that office is no longer held.
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Reflections on the pluses and minuses of moving away
The pluses of staying were for the most part seen in terms of
retaining “the support of neighbours and friends”. The minuses
of leaving were correspondingly leaving good friends: “we
missed the many good friendships in the church and in the
community when we moved away in retirement”; “It has taken
time to fit in and appreciate the new community and
surroundings. On the other hand, a plus of moving away is the
opportunity “to make a new beginning – and to make new
friendships”.
Another plus of moving away is “not always bumping into
people from the past or the former church”. As one put it:
“Having had a long pastorate (twenty-one years), it was good
that I could not be involved in the ongoing life of the church,
hearing people's moans about how things had changed and
being asked for my opinion. At the same time, I had a very good
relationship with my successor, who had no hesitation about
turning to me for advice from time to time and inviting me back
for funerals, special anniversaries etc. It was also helpful that
the area I moved to was one where I already had friends.”
Yet another plus is being able to “explore new areas”.
5. FINANCIAL ISSUES
Just over 80% are in the Baptist Ministers’ Pension Fund; 17%
respondents are in other pension schemes; the only NSM just
draws a state pension.
My/our annual income:
The income ‘bands’ were too broad: initially I had proposed
bands rising in stages of £5,000, but was told that many
ministers would find that intrusive. However, less than 8%
preferred not to answer this question – “too personal”, said one.
As far as those who did respond, the combined income of almost
three-quarters (74%) was less than £30K, with just over 28%
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receiving less that £20K. A further 17% have a combined
income of over £40K: of these around 13% received under £40K;
almost 4% received under £50K; and just one respondent
received more than £50K.
The 2018 Baptist Union ‘standard’ stipend is £22,000. The
current 2018/2019 full state pension is £8,546 a year. The full
'normal' pension is 50% of the standard stipend, which in 2018
is £22,000: therefore around £11k. This amounts to just over
£19,500. According to a former Baptist Union staff member:
“This is not so far short of standard stipend, and given the
opportunity in early retirement for some small amounts of
additional earnings, the income level is not so different to that
earned in ministry”. However, as we have seen, relatively few
retired ministers have taken up paid employment in early
retirement. Furthermore, ministers in pastorate receive either
rent-free accommodation (according to the Baptist Union this is
worth £6,000) or a rent allowance: by contrast retired ministers
need to pay for the upkeep of their home or pay rent. In the
light of this, ministers retiring experience a substantial drop in
income – and all the more so for those whose pension
contributions were less than the norm.
However, it is interesting to compare £19,500 which many
retired Baptist ministers receive with the recent findings of the
This is Money financial website (12 Jan 2018): people retiring in
2018 expect an annual income of £19,900 – which is just £400
more than the Baptist ‘standard’ stipend.
It is important to note that the figures in the survey reflect
‘combined’ pension income for married retired ministers. By
contrast with the spouses of a good number of many younger
serving Baptist ministers, most of the ministers’ spouses in the
survey did not pursue a career of their own – instead the wives
(and the spouses in this survey were almost exclusively wives)
supported their husbands by adopting the traditional role of a
minister’s wife, who tended to be an ‘unpaid curate’ to all
intents and purposes.
The Daily Telegraph reported that industry estimates for a
comfortable retirement commonly range between £23,000 and
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£27,000.29 That same report included research by the consumer
group Which?: this found that retired couples need £18,000 a
year on average to cover household essentials such as food,
utilities, transport and housing needs; this amount rose to
£26,000 when allowing for extras such as European holidays
and leisure activities.
How well do you feel you are you managing financially?
Nobody said they were “struggling”.
10% said they were “just about managing” – this number
includes a younger retired minister who has yet to draw his
Baptist pension and is currently living on savings.
Almost 18% said they had “enough to live on”.
Just over a third (36%) said they were “comfortable” - these
included 10% receiving a combined income of less than £20K.
Of the almost a quarter (23%) who said that they had “no
money problems”, one respondent was receiving less than £20K.
The vast majority ministers in this survey appear to be content.
Their contentment probably reflects the spirit of Paul’s advice to
the young Timothy: “There is great gain in godliness combined
with contentment… if we have food and clothing, we will be
content with these” (1 Tim 6.6-8).
6. HEALTH ISSUES
How good is your health? [your spouse’s health]
Some 13% had “major health concerns” or were not “in the best
of health”. Around a tenth ((%) were “OK”. Over half (64%)
claimed to be “fairly healthy” or “in the best of my health for my
age”.
29 ‘How much do I need to retire?’, Daily Telegraph 3 January 2018.
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Significantly, as the detailed raw data reveals, the spouses
appeared to be a good deal less fit than the retired ministers!
What forms of regular exercise do you take?
Walking is the favourite form of exercise: around one third
(36%) take long walks (some 8% with a dog); and a further third
(34%) take either ‘moderate walks’ or ‘occasional long walks’ or
‘short walks.
Over one fifth (21%) say gardening is one of their forms of
exercise; with almost 8% going to a gym.
Other forms of exercise include swimming, cycling, golf, bowls,
building, church cleaning, church maintenance, table tennis –
for one respondent ‘skiing’!
Bearing in mind that many respondents mentioned more than
one form of exercise, the impression is that most retired
ministers do not exercise much. Almost 6%, however, mentioned
that they used to take exercise, but can do so no longer; and on
respondent said he only went for short walks, but up until the
age of 86 had gone to the gym and had also swum regularly!
7. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The first three questions in this section related to setting our
affairs in order.
Have you made a will?
Not surprisingly, with ministers often having to deal with the
dying and the bereaved, almost 90% of the respondents had
made a will. By contrast, in 2016 only 36% of over 55s in the
UK had not made a will.
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Have you given somebody a power of attorney (for
health and/or for finance)?
Three quarters of retired ministers have not given a power of
attorney (for health and/of for finance) to anyone. This power of
attorney ensures that one’s wishes are observed when one is no
longer able to care for oneself.
Have you chosen hymns or readings for your funeral?
Over a third (38%) of retired ministers had chosen hymns or
readings for their funeral. No doubt this reflects their own
experience how much easier it is to conduct a personal funeral
when the wishes of the deceased are known. One respondent
commented: “every time I try, new songs emerge that I prefer”!
Do you have any worries about the future?
This question elicited some very different responses: half said
no, while half said yes.
On reflection ‘worries’ may have been the wrong word –
‘concerns’ might have been better. As one wrote: “I have
concerns, but I am not crippled by worry”. Another said: “As a
Christian I have ‘no worries’(was he thinking of Matt 6.25-34
where in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus told his
disciples not to worry?); but there are things I wonder about: my
wife is six years older, and so will she die before me? If I die
first, will she have enough income?” Several mentioned
“keeping independent and keeping my mental faculties”.
Similarly, for some “the prospect of health limitations with age
do not bring great joy, and at some time the prospect of
downsizing to a more manageable property isn’t attractive”.
Other concerns included the health of family members; children
who were struggling financial, and the wellbeing of a son with
Asperger’s; and “ultimately having to downsize again” – while
another mention his understandable concern for “planet earth”!
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8. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
How regular are your daily devotions?
Over 96% were regular in their daily devotions – 68% did so
“every day”, and 28% “most days” a daily discipline. Of the 4%
who are “infrequent” in their daily devotions, one said: “I am
constantly aware of God’s presence”
What scheme are you currently using for your personal
reading of the Bible?
40% use printed Bible reading notes – if online Bible reading
notes are included, the percentage rises to 47%. Another 43%
read through a Bible book either with or without a commentary.
Just over 15% follow the Lectionary of Celtic Daily Prayer. Less
than 6% don’t have any regular pattern.
It is interesting to contrast the responses of retired ministers
with the responses of ministers yet to retire. In a survey of
ministers reading habits, the following percentages were
obtained: 30
The Lectionary 13%
Printed Bible reading notes 19%
Online Bible notes/devotional thoughts 19%
Reading through a Bible book with a commentary 19%
Reading through a Bible book without a commentary or notes
36%
I don’t have a regular pattern of reading 19%
[The figures would suggest that a few ministers are using more
than one scheme]
30 See Paul Beasley-Murray, ‘Ministers’ Reading Habits’, Baptist Quarterly
49 [1] (January 2018).
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Are you accountable to anyone spiritually?
Three-quarters were not accountable to any one spiritually. Of
those who were accountable, nobody had a ‘spiritual director’.
Instead mention was made of “the pastor: “a prayer triplet” or
“a prayer partner”; “a ministers’ monthly gathering”; or
“informally”.
Is there anyone who serves as a mentor to you?
Almost 80% had no mentor. Of those who had, it was not clear
how many had a formal arrangement with a mentor. Responses
included: retired ministers; old friends; and “unofficially”).
Less than 4% who said they had a mentor replied in the earlier
question that they were accountable to someone spiritually.
If no [to the two previous questions], would you see any
benefit at this stage in having another person have input
into your life?
Of the 20% who said they would appreciate a mentor, one
answered “Yes, most definitely”; while another said “We always
need input”. On the other hand, one minister felt that having a
person to have input into his life would be “too personal”.
I suspect that the quarter (around 26%) who did not answer
probably don’t see any benefit in having another person to have
input in their lives. If so, then this means that over two-thirds
(over 70%) see no need for a ‘mentor’ or somebody to
‘accompany’ them on their spiritual journey.
Have you been able to continue some biblical and
theological study?
Over half (57%) of the respondents in the survey said they had
continued to study.
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Do you belong to a theological society or study group
where you can grow and develop in your theological
thinking?
87% did not belong to a theological society or study group. Of
those who do, mention was made of “a study group with two
other Baptist members”; the “Baptist Historical Society”;
“Societas Liturgica & the Alcuin club”; “the Cathedral
theological society”, and the “Society for New Testament
Studies”.
Commentaries apart, what (if any) theological books
have you read in the last three months
Apart from the 5% who said the books they had read were “too
numerous to list”, the 70% of all respondents who listed the
books they had read, averaged three theological books in three
months. This is impressive, and not least because a good
number of the books they mentioned were relatively
demanding.
By contrast around a quarter of retired ministers had done no
theological reading in that period. One said: “Now I am not
preaching so much, it is more important to know Jesus and God,
then just to know about them”.
What, if any, non-theological books have you read in the
last three months?
Just over half (51%) listed books they had read and these
averaged again three non-theological books in a wide variety of
fields. The one fifth who had read “too many to list”, included
“mostly thrillers”, “crime novels”, “biographies”, “mostly epic
fantasy novels”, and “novels, poetry and history”. Another fifth
specifically said they had not read anything. Bearing in mind
that less than 6% of respondents were women, and that in
Britain older women tend to be the avid readers, this again was
impressive.
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9. RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL CHURCH
In this survey all respondents are engaged in the worship life of
a local church. However, one is still in his first year of
retirement and has yet to ‘join’ a church – this needs to be borne
in mind when looking at the responses to the next questions.
Most respondents are still members of a Baptist church:
however, just over a quarter (26%) worship in a non-Baptist
church – most attend Anglican churches, but some attend
another Free or independent church. Reasons for not attending
a Baptist church vary: for one, the Baptist church in town is
elderly and small; for another the local Baptist church lacks a
strong evangelical teaching ministry; others are attracted by
the breadth and depth of a more liturgical tradition.
How happy are you in your present church?
Just over half (53%) were either “very happy” (34%) or just
“happy” (19%). By contrast under half were either just ‘OK’
(10%), ‘unhappy’ (15%), ‘very unhappy’ (4%). Others were
‘unsettled’ or had yet to belong to a church.
How supportive is the church to you?
Here the figures are an improvement on the previous question.
Almost one third (31%) feel the church is “very supportive”; and
another quarter (26%) feel the church is “supportive”. One
respondent commented: “critically, this is related to us being
supportive”.
On the other hand, around 40% appear to feel no support.
Almost one fifth (19%) feel “treated like any other person”; over
one tenth (11.3%) feel “ignored”; and almost one tenth feel
“treated with suspicion”.
The question arises, in what sense can and should a church be
‘supportive’ of a retired minister? In what sense did those
responding to the questionnaire understand the term ‘support’?
Is it just the normal kind of ‘pastoral’ support which any
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member could expect – or is it more? If, as we shall see, almost
every respondent believes that ‘ordination is for life’, then one
might think that churches would continue to honour those
retired ministers in their midst as a gift from God to their
church (see Eph 4.11).
The survey later reveals that many churches are glad to
continue to use the experience of retired ministers by asking
them to preach or to share in the church’s pastoral care –
although this is not the case in every church. Even as the
limitations of age increase, there are still surely times when a
church can affirm their delight in the presence of these
‘honorary’ elders amongst them.
How good is your relationship with the minister of your
present church?
Almost one third (32%) felt they had a “very good relationship”
and another quarter felt they had a “good” relationship.
However, although these 57% stated they have a “good” or “very
good” relationship with their minister, when later asked “would
you count the minister as a friend”, only 43% said “yes”.
Almost a third (30%) were less positive: 13% said their
relationship was “OK”, another 11% said their relationship was
“not good” and 6% said it was “not good at all”
Some 11% said their church had no minister.
On reflection it might have been interesting to get respondents
to reflect on the nature of their relationship with the minister.
To what extent is the relationship mutually beneficial? Is the
relationship more than pleasantries at the church door? Or is
there a deeper sharing of heart and mind? Does the minister
take the opportunity to visit his retired colleague on a regular
basis – and in the context of growing friendship talk through
some of the issues on his heart?
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How much do you feel part of your present church?
Here there is a slight increase in those feeling positive towards
their church: just under two thirds of respondents feel “very
much” (35%) or “quite” (28%) part of the church.
However, over one tenth (11%) feel just “OK”; while a further
fifth feel either “on the edge” (13%) or “very much on the edge”
(6%) of their present church. This sense of being on the edge
must be tough – and all the more so in a Baptist church where
traditionally membership is understood as a covenant
relationship, in which we are committed “to love one another
and stand by one another whatever the cost”.31
Do you belong to a home group or similar small group?
Most respondents (64%) are involved in their local church
during the week through belonging to a home group, of which
many are the leader.
I now wish I had asked to what extent the home group really
satisfies. I wonder to what extent ministers – even in their
retirement – can be just another member of the group, for by
virtue of their call to teach and preach, ministers have been
called in the first place to be men and women of theology. 32
Retired ministers have spent a life-time dedicated to the study
of theology, and that study together with a life-time dedicated
to the service of others through the ministry of prayer sets them
apart. We cannot pretend others. Yet other members of the
church fail to see this. As one commented: “There is little
understanding of the peculiarity of my position as a retired
minister”. Belonging to a home group may help retired
ministers to develop friendships (according to one respondent it
was the “best part of church”) and so contribute to their sense of
belonging in the church – but to what extent they meet the
31 A form of words which I always used in welcoming people into church
membership
32 Michael Ramsey, The Christian Priest Today (SPCK, London revised ed.
1985) 7.
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spiritual needs of retired ministers, let alone contribute to their
spiritual development, may be questionable.
Do you belong to other groups in the church?
40% said they did not belong to any other group in the church.
However, 15% were involved with a men’s group of some kind;
and almost 8% were in positions of leadership such as being a
deacon or an elder or a member of the PCC. Other groups
included a prayer chain/prayer group; a Bible study group; the
choir or music group; groups for preaching, planning worship,
running Alpha, exercising pastoral, and church publicity; a
lunch club or tea meeting for older people; an art & craft group;
a CAP job club; Messy church; Open Book (schools work); a
technical team and a maintenance team.
10. FRIENDS – IN THE CHURCH AND BEYOND THE
CHURCH
At two points in the questionnaire I asked about friends: the
first-time about friends in the church, and the second time
about friends in the wider community.
Have you made friends with the members of the church?
91% had made some friends, but only 36% had “many” friends.
8% had made no friends.
Have you made new friends outside the church?
Although 72% said they had made friends outside the church,
only 23% had made “many” new friends outside of the church
compared to the 36% who said they had made many new friends
in the church. Almost 4% had made some acquaintances, but
almost one tenth (9%) had made no friends. What about the
fifth (21%) who did not reply? Are they to be included amongst
those who had no friends?
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On reflection, I should have defined more clearly what I meant
by the word ‘friend’, for I wonder whether the situation is worse
than it might appear. For the word friend can cover four
different categories of friends:
Casual friends - friends – acquaintances – people whose
names you know
General friends – people you might invite to your home
for a party
Good friends – people with whom you can begin to be
open
Close friends – our best friends - people with whom you
can be completely ‘real’.33
I suspect that retired ministers have on the whole relatively few
“good” or “close” friends.
This variety of meaning became clear when I talked to one
retired minister who said he had “many friends” in the church,
but in all his time in that church he had never had a meal in
anybody’s home – nor had he had anybody back home for a
coffee.
In the past six months how many church people have
invited you into their home?
On reflection I should have asked “how many times have you
been invited out by church people either into their home or to a
restaurant?” Most answering this question specifically
mentioned the number of couples – I have therefore counted a
couple as ‘one’ invitation.
The invitations to a home or out to a restaurant were not
overwhelming: less than a third (28%) had been invited out over
three times in a six-month period; less than a third (30%) been
33 See Paul Beasley-Murray, ‘Levels of friendship’, Church Matters. See also
Kaya Burgess, ‘A stranger can become your friend in 90 hours’, The Times 14
April 2018.
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invited out once or twice; and just under a third (32%) had
never been invited. If one includes the no responses with those
who had not been invited out, then the figure rises to 38%.
One respondent commented, “hospitality does not seem to be
part of today’s culture”; another wrote: “hospitality is not part of
this fellowship”. However, ‘it takes two to tango’. In the words of
another: “This is about being pro-active. We invite people
regularly. They invite us.” I wonder how much effort some
retired ministers have put into making new friends in a new
church.
I now wish I had also asked “how many people outside the
church have invited you into their home?” I fear that the
numbers would have been even lower.
It has been pointed out to me that I did not ask how many
retired ministers had invited people into their home – but this
deliberate. In so far as it tends to be part of the job for pastors
to exercise ‘hospitality’, I was more interested to see how much
friendship was being offered by those who were not retired
ministers.
Are there any factors which make it difficult to make
friends in the church?
Two-thirds (66%) felt there were no factors involved.
However, one third (34%) felt there were factors. A number
mentioned such as ‘distance from the church’; ‘frequent Sunday
absences preaching elsewhere’; ‘we are often away’; and even
‘middle-class reserve – friendly but distant’. Others said: “I am
perceived as ‘clever’ and ‘other’ - my interests don’t coincide
with some of the things that happen at church: e.g. knit and
natter group, musical theatre, endless baking”; “my introvert
temperament”; “I refuse to be part of a clique”; “I am mindful of
the apparent ‘hurdle’ of being a retired minister”; “I do not try
to form the kind of close relationships with members which was
appropriate for a pastor”; and even “I prefer not to make friends
with church people”. One respondent mentioned that many
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older people find it more difficult to make and maintain
friendship in later life than when they were young. 34
11. MINISTRY IN RETIREMENT
In this section there were four statements for respondents to
‘tick’. I had seen the first two statements standing over against
each other, and similarly the last two statements standing over
against each other – but this was not made clear in the
questionnaire itself.
‘God continues to have a call’ versus ‘the time to
withdraw’
Ordination is for life, so God continues to have a call on my life:
81%
Retirement is the time to withdraw from the demands of
ministry 25%
It was significant that 81% claimed that “ordination is for life,
so God continues to have a call on my life”, for among Baptist
churches there has been a debate about the relationship of
ministry to the local church. Arthur Dakin, a former principal of
Bristol Baptist College, argued that the moment a minister
ceases to be the pastor of a Baptist church, that moment he
ceases to be a minister – “there is actually no minister without
ministering”. 35 Indeed, the Baptist Ministers’ Journal contains
a liturgy releasing a retiring minister from ministry. 36
34 See, for instance, Age UK Loneliness Review (revised July 2015) who cite S.
Pettigrew, R. Donovan, D, Boldy, & R. Newton, ‘Older people's perceived
causes of and strategies for dealing with social isolation’, Aging & mental
health 18.7 (2014), 914-920.
35 See Arthur Dakin, The Baptist View of the Church and Ministry (Baptist
Union Publications, London 1944).
36 See ‘An Act of Thanksgiving for and Release from Ministry’ BMJ 280
(October 2002) 11-12 where the congregation says: “We represent the Church
of Jesus Christ which called you and set you apart for Ministry. In his name
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However, in recent years Baptists have adopted an increasingly
‘sacramental’ as distinct from a ‘functional’ approach to
ministry, 37 in which ordination is viewed effectively as an
‘indelible’ act from which there can be no turning back: once a
minister, then a minister for ever. 38 This certainly is the
understanding of almost all the respondents. Overwhelmingly
retired ministers believe that retirement is not the end of
ministry.
Less than 6% specifically said ordination is not for life: one, who
was trained at Bristol Baptist College, specifically referred to
the views of Arthur Dakin; others preferred to speak of God’s
call to ‘Christian discipleship’ as being ‘for life’.
The second statement was perhaps not best phrased. The word
“demands” was clearly understood in more than one way. I had
seen this statement as the opposite of the first – whereas in fact
seven of those who had agreed with the first statement agreed
with the second statement, as if the term “demands” was
equivalent to perhaps the term “pressures”.
Content to be an ordinary ‘punter’ versus ‘I find it
difficult’
On Sundays I am content to be an ordinary ‘punter’ in the pew
42%
I find it difficult listening to somebody else preach
22%
we now release you from your responsibility as Minister and pray God’s
blessing on the new chapter in your life which is just beginning”.
37 See Paul Goodliff, Ministry, Sacrament and Representation: Ministry and
Ordination in Contemporary Baptist Theology, and the Rise of
Sacramentalism (Regent’s Park College, Oxford 2010).
38 See Paul Beasley-Murray, ‘The Ministry of All and the Leadership of
Some’ 166-167 in Anyone for Ordination? (Marc, Tunbridge Wells 1993) ed.
Paul Beasley-Murray, where I argue that there is no New Testament
warrant for this position!
83
Within Baptist churches traditionally the call to ministry is
seen as primarily a call to preach. Hence ‘preaching with a view
(to the pastorate)’ is at the heart of the process of a local church
calling a minister. In the questionnaire I was seeking to
discover how retired Baptist ministers cope with that stage in
life when they are longer fulfilling what was at the heart of
their calling.
The answer is that for over two-fifths, they listen to others
preach ‘with difficulty’. True, for some it is the quality of the
preaching that makes it “difficult listening to somebody else
preach”, particularly, said one, when it is “without their having
been trained and sometimes without much preparation”; but for
others, it is simply difficult sitting “in the pew”.39
Opportunities for the retired to serve God in his church
Many of the retired are busily involved in serving God in his
church.
I continue to preach and lead Bible studies: 85%
I look for opportunities to share my faith: 60%
I continue to take funerals: 55%
I help with pastoral care: 47%
I lead a home/small group: 36%
I mentor younger ministers: 21%
I serve as a spiritual director: 2%
Less than 6% are involved as serving as a deacon or an elder.
Less than 4% are involved in leading Alpha. Less than 2% are
involved in mentoring older ministers or mentoring young
leaders in the church; or serving as a volunteer in church café;
belonging to a school’s worker’s support group or taking school
39 One respondent, perhaps rightly, did not approve of my term ‘punter’. “I
am not a punter”, he wrote, “I am there as a worshipping and praying
member listening and watching for what God is doing”.
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assemblies; or running a church bookstall or working in a
church library; editing a church newsletter or preacher training
or playing the piano and keyboard or serving as a trustee of two
charities; or being a church treasurer or church cleaner or
chairing the local Churches Together.
It was surprising to see that not every retired minister looks for
‘opportunities to share my faith’. Faith-sharing – or evangelism
– is part of the Baptist DNA. As the Baptist Union’s Declaration
of Principle puts it: “It is the duty of every disciple to bear
witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to take part on the
evangelisation of the world”. Or in the words of Johann
Gerhardt Oncken, the great German church planter: “Every
Baptist a missionary”. Yet for 40% of respondents this appears
not to be the case. One who did look to share his faith, said he
“seldom” had an opportunity.
12. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MINISTERS
SINCE RETIREMENT
Do you attend as local ministers meeting?
Less than 10% of retired ministers attend a local ministers
meeting. On the whole retired ministers are not welcome at
meetings designed for ‘active’ ministers – and understandably
so, for the concerns of the former are different from the concerns
of the latter.
Do you belong to a retired ministers’ group?
62% belong to a retired ministers groups – but 38% do not. A
number indicated there wasn’t a group for retired ministers in
their area. Where there are groups, my understanding is that
all these groups have been set up at the initiative of retired
ministers.
38% of respondents indicated they meet up (occasionally) with
minister-friends in other parts of the country.
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13. RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BAPTIST UNION
AND REGIONAL MINISTERS IN RETIREMENT
Have you had a pastoral visit or personal letter or phone
call from your regional minister?
Almost four fifths (79%) had experienced no contact with a
regional minister since retirement. Clearly some associations
have different policies from others. In the South Eastern
Baptist Association, I am told, every retired minister receives a
Christmas visit from a regional minister bearing the annual gift
of a Christmas cake. The South-Western Association has
appointed pastoral care co-ordinators for retired ministers, and
these co-ordinators are accountable to one of the regional
ministers. But such care is not the norm elsewhere.
This lack of contact is evident, for instance, in the Eastern
Baptist Association where 80% had not received a pastoral visit
or personal letter or a phone call from their regional minister.
Significantly, there were particular reasons for the five
respondents within the EBA for receiving a visit, letter, or
phone call: one was a member of the same church as one of the
regional ministers; one is a personal friend of one of the regional
ministers; one had himself been a regional minister and so
could be regarded as having been a colleague; one asked for a
visit, and the fifth was visited by a regional minister with a
view to him becoming moderator of a church. Of those EBA
ministers who had not had any contact with a regional minister,
one stated: “I wrote to him twice, but received no
acknowledgement or reply”. Another said: “Even after the death
of my wife I had no contact”.
How often do you have opportunities to preach in
churches in your Association?
Although in a previous question 85% of respondents were
involved in “preaching and leading Bible studies”, the resulting
figures are considerably lower when it comes to preaching
invitations in the local church:
86
Almost half appear to want to preach, but either have never
preached (17%) or have preached once (2%) or have preached
only “rarely” or “occasionally” (30%).
Over a quarter appear to preach “regularly”: these include those
who each once or twice as month (13%); who preach only in
their local church (4%), or who preach “very often” (2%).
A quarter do not seek preaching invitations on grounds of
personal ill-health or the ill-health of a spouse or simply
because they no longer wish to preach.
I sense a degree of frustration on the part of some that they do
not preach more often.
Other involvement in association life
32% have been to an association assembly
28% have served as a moderator of another church
25% have been to an association ministers’ conference
17% have been asked to do a task in another church
Most retired ministers have clearly no longer any involvement
in the association. This involvement is even more limited than
it might appear, since for many attendance at an assembly or a
ministers’ conference has been a one-off. Some respondents
have mentioned the cost – especially of the minister’s
conference.
Involvement in wider Baptist life
36% read the electronic Baptist Times
32% have been to the Baptist Assembly
Here too we see limited involvement – even when it comes to
reading regularly the Baptist Times. A number of respondents
said they would read the Baptist Times if it appeared as a hard
copy.
87
How much do you feel part of the Baptist family?
Two-fifths (43%) still feel “part of the wider Baptist family –
and a further 3% feel “very much”. But most do not feel they
belong any more. Even one respondent who said that he still
“feels part of the wider Baptist family”, feels “marginalised”.
Almost three-tenths (28%) “feel neither one thing or another”.
This includes one respondent who commented “my only link is
the pension scheme”.
Just over one fifth say they “no longer feel part of the wider
Baptist family”; and 15% say they “feel forgotten by the wider
Baptist family”.40
These are sobering statistics, and all the more so in that here
we are not dealing with ordinary church members, but with
ministers who have given a life-time of service to the Baptist
family. Whereas in this post-modern age many members of
Baptist churches today are only members because they ‘feel’
good to be members of a particular Baptist church – and if they
were to move away to another town are just as likely to join a
church of another denomination where the worship or the
preaching or the love of the fellowship may ‘feel’ good – here we
are dealing with men and women who are Baptists by
conviction. Itis significant that earlier in the questionnaire,
when respondents were asked “would they want to belong to a
different denomination”, the overwhelming consensus was “yes”
– if God were to call them into ministry again, the only option
would be Baptist ministry. Only one respondent answered
“possibly”. This is the context in which we need to consider the
responses to the question: “How much do you feel part of the
wider ‘Baptist family’”. It is surely food for thought that so
many feel they have been let down by the wider Baptist family.
40 Some of these figures may appear not to add up, but this is because some
respondents ticked more than one response: e.g. “I no longer feel part of the
wider Baptist family” and “I feel forgotten by the wider Baptist family”.
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Are you content with the support you currently receive?
75% are not content with the support they receive. This is a
devastating response. Indeed, one response was “What
support?”. Within the context of ‘relationships with the Baptist
Union and regional ministry, this is surely a cause for great dis-
ease.
It is important to realise that the context of this question is on
the relationship with the Baptist Union and its regional
ministers. In addition to the 25% who are content, a further
15% say that they are content with the support they receive, but
explicitly state that it is not “thanks to Baptists”, or at least
“not thanks to the Baptist Union and its regional ministers”.
One, who did not receive support from the association or Union,
said: “I don’t expect support from the Baptist family staff. You
have to get on with it and find people to journey with”.
However, he and his wife are in the unusual position of being in
a church where there are two other retired ministers and their
wives, with whom they meet up on a regular basis.
Other comments include: “The silence was deafening and
continues”; “I would like regional ministers to know that I
exist”; “There was virtually no support from the Area Ministry
team: it was left to the initiative of a locally well-known retired
minister to bring other retired ministers and spouses together.
I’m not complaining but it’s almost as though we became
‘invisible’ to the BU and the Area”; “It would be nice to have had
regular follow-up from the regional team to make sure
retirement was working”.
If you are not content with the support you receive, then
how do you feel churches, associations and indeed the
Baptist Union could better support retired ministers?
At this point many comments were made. Regional ministers
need “to recognise that we have a vast library of gathered
ministerial knowledge that is left untapped for the most part”.
“There needs to be some acknowledgement we exist – as it is
there is no Baptist Union handbook (in which are names used to
appear); and the names of retired ministers no longer appear in
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association handbooks”. “It is a great shame that the
Association makes no provision for retired ministers to meet
from time to time. We do get a printed card from the team at
Christmas, but that does not add up to pastoral care”. “The
Baptist Steering Group [of the Baptist Union] seems to assume
that pastoral care of ministers was solely the responsibility of
the local church (questions asked via the Baptist Ministers
Fellowship & the Retired Baptist Ministers Housing
Association): in other words, retired ministers are no different
from other retired people”. One of the saddest comments was, “I
feel so far removed that I cannot offer any suggestions”.
Along with others one respondent urged: “Make the visitation of
retired ministers a high priority for area ministers, who seem to
forget we exist but who would benefit from our wisdom and
experience”. Another wrote: “I know regional ministers’ time is
pressured and resources are limited, but I think one regional
minister in each association should have responsibility for the
retired minister in their area and keep in regular contact by
phone or e-mail or by arranging meetings. A phone call once in
a while to ask ‘How you’re doing’ would be nice! By definition,
pastoral care should be offered, not sought in an emergency”.
Yet another said: “I feel ministers enter ministry ‘with a bang’
(e.g. recognition at Assembly) and leave with a whimper. The
Baptist Union is ‘missing a trick’ in not using the example of
‘life-long’ ministry as an inspiration to those coming into and
possibly struggling in ministry. It’s more about recognition than
support really. There is also a reluctance on the part of some
regional leaders to see the value that retired ministers could
bring to ministers’ meetings provided they did not harp back to
‘how it was done in my day’ but encourage other ministers in
their struggles which most of us have been through.” A similar
comment was expressed by another respondent: “For a number
of years, I was a member of the Association Board of Trustees.
One of my often-repeated suggestions was to draw attention to
the number of “young” (newly retired) ministers living in the
Association with a wealth of skills and experience that the
Association might use to their advantage”.
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14. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY
Some fourteen questions were asked about family relationships,
but many of them proved not to be of great significance. For
instance, as might be expected most retired ministers do not
have elderly parents to care for – indeed, only six did. As one
respondent said: “We are elderly parents/grandparents”!
‘How has retirement affected your spouse?’
Some spouses clearly found the transition difficult. For
instance: “It has been difficult fitting into church life – change
of roles”; “she misses people very much and can feel lonely”; “it
has not been easy having to uproot once more and set up new
relationships – but she is very resilient”; “she has found it more
difficult that I have leaving some very close friends in our last
church and feeling quite unhappy here with issues with the
house etc. She is more content now and is finding a few roles in
the church.”
Some spouses appreciated the transition. For instance, “she is
pleased to be free from church ‘politics’; “she is able to have
meaningful friendships more than when I was a minister”; “she
now appreciates the possibility of being an "ordinary" member
of the church and not having to live up to people's expectations;
“Instead of duties she now has choices”; “she is very happy with
it”.
For two spouses retirement is entailing fresh opportunities: one
“has taken on spiritual direction and runs the diocese training
course for new spiritual directors”; another is seeking to re-
establish opportunities to continue her piano tuition in a new
area”.
How has retirement affected your relationship with your
spouse?
For some “not much has changed”; “our relationship is as strong
as before”.
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For others retirement appears to have enhanced relationships:
“we have grown closer together, become more interdependent,
but have also lost some individual independence”; “we pray
together more, we sit in church together”; “we have more time
together – especially evenings”; “we have more time to do things
together – we have taken the opportunity to foster involvement
in activities outside the church and we also appreciate having
weekends to visit family and friends”.
Involvement in church life
By comparing the answers on the number of children and
grandchildren, and the answers on how many of their children
were still involved in church life, and how many of their
grandchildren attend church, the following figures emerged:
49% of children of the Manse are involved in church life –
51% are not. 53% of grandchildren of retired ministers
attend church – and 47% do not.
The church statistician, Peter Brierley, quoted some Canadian
research which showed that just over 53% of children follow
their parents’ faith, with just over 46% no longer attending
church – however, these figures apply to children from
Christian families in general, not to ‘children of the manse’ – or
rather to children of ministers now retired.41
The questionnaire did not ask respondents to give a reason as to
why any of their children were no longer involved in church life.
However, respondents did mention how time and again the
behaviour of people in the church had proved a stumbling block.
One wrote, for instance, that his son “turned away from the
church, but not from Jesus Christ, because of the mismatch
between faith and Christian behaviour toward me in some
leading Christians at a key time in his life. I received a letter of
apology from that Christian community for this behaviour, but
41 Peter Brierley, Pulling Out of the Nosedive (Christian Research, London
2008) 115.
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the damage had been done – and it remains to this day in his
life”. Another wrote: “I regret the extent to which they were
probably affected by times of extreme tension”. Yet another
wrote of the loss of faith of three of his children caused by the
way in which they had seen their father “abused” in the contest
of a church “fight”. 42 Hopefully, perhaps not all is lost. As one
retired minister commented: “sadly our three are not involved
with church now, but they do have fond memories of some of the
things they did as part of church”.
15. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WIDER WORLD
New Interests
The involvement of retired ministers in ‘the wider world’ was
somewhat limited:
40% work as a volunteer in the community
19% have developed new IT skills
17% go regularly/occasionally to the theatre, cinema, concert
hall
9% have done a cookery course
8% have become a Rotarian (or equivalent)
8% attend study courses linked with U3A/Workers Educational
Institute/ etc
6% have joined a political party
4% now belong to a book club:
42 See Patricia Fouque, ‘Abuse in Ministry’, Ministry Today 10 (Summer
1997) 10: “Children of the Manse or Vicarage carry heavy burdens, and when
there is conflict in the church or their father is dismissed from post, they
have to face not only a change of school friends, church, but also their
parents’ pain. Many are left with a deep sense of betrayal and struggle well
into adult years, with feelings of bitterness, resentment and anger.”
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Other interests mentioned included playing golf (6%); wood-
turning (4%); carpet/indoor bowls (4%); and joining a local choir
(4%). Less than 2% mentioned starting piano lessons or and
developing skills on piano and organ; joining an art group;
exploring family history; becoming an Advanced Driving
mentor; building a model railway; looking after fish; watching
cricket, rugby and football; and after-dinner speaking.
Recognising that some retired ministers are engaged in more
than one activity, we can conclude that a large proportion of
retired ministers do not seem to be relating to the wider
community in which they are set, and therefore they would
appear not to be fulfilling their calling to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in
the world (Matt 5.13-16).
16. EXPERIENCE OF RETIREMENT SO FAR
What is the best thing you enjoy about retirement?
Freedom, together with variations on the theme, was the only
and almost exclusive reply of 87% of respondents: “freedom to
serve God on my own terms; “freedom and a more relaxed life;
“freedom to choose what I do”; “freedom to say ‘no’”; “freedom to
go and watch Essex County Cricket”; “not having
responsibility”; “freedom from pressure”; “flexibility”; “freedom
from ‘must do’ pressure”; “free - not having to go our every
evening”; “space to read a novel, to think, to meet regularly with
friends and talks”; “free to have time for family and going away
a lot”; freedom from time pressure; freedom to do things;
freedom to travel.
There were only four other individual responses: “being able to
work for love rather than pay”; the opportunity to go on being of
service within the church; “living in my home”, and “living in a
lovely place”. 43
43 By contrast a 2017 Legal and General Survey of 2000 of their pensioners
indicated that only 12% of their respondents mentioned ‘freedom’ as one of
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What is the hardest challenge you face in retirement?
Here the responses were more diverse:-
Growing older 15%
Loneliness 11%
Living life meaningfully 11%
Time 9%
Being a carer 8%
Loss of role 8%
Church 8%
Money 2%
No challenges 6%
The following comments were received:
Being a carer: “caring for a very sick wife”; “caring for my wife”;
“helping our son who has Asperger’s Syndrome find his way
through life”.
Church: “A dreadful experience of the local Baptist church”;
“integration with a church I find difficult”; “disappointment
with the church we attend”; “hearing about the churches where
I have ministered and the fact that they are declining.”
Getting older: “motivation and relative immobility due to
disability”; “accepting the need to slow down”; “acceptance of
limitation”; “growing old and less able”; “not being able to do all
the things I used to and the things I still can do take so much
longer”; “declining physical ability”; “coming to terms with
changing physical capability”; “decreasing energy”; “health
issues”
Leaving life meaningful: “self-indulgence becomes tedious for
those whose calling is to live for others in the service of Christ”;
“struggling with purpose and knowing who I am”; “boredom”;
“to find out who I am now that my wife has died and having to
the good aspects of retirement. Other good aspects mentioned with no time
pressure (25%), hobbies (12%), grandkids/family (9%) and travelling (6%).
95
make a new life for myself”; “the reduction in personal
fulfilment”; relaxing and not thinking I’m wasting time;
“remembering my worth before God is not based on what I
achieve in ministry but who I am by his grace”
Loneliness: “times when lonely”; “missing good friends in my
pastorates”; “loneliness since my wife died and self-motivation”;
“living the life of a bachelor after 57 years of married life”; “long
dark nights on my own”; “spending long dark winter evenings at
home”
Loss of a role: “having something to offer when it is not
apparently accepted”; “not having gifts used”; “remembering my
worth before God is not based on what I achieve in ministry but
who I am by his grace”.
Time: “wanting to fully retire but seeing the challenges in and
outside church life for authentic Christian service”; “time to do
everything I want to”; “not allowing time to slip by” “the
temptation to take on too many commitments”; “getting
a balance in time spent between the things we have to do and
the things we want to do. “Retirement is a job to be negotiated –
we find that we have to book a day off each week since if we do
not do this, then it fails to happen, and we can easily find
ourselves without much time to actually do relaxing things
together”.
Money: “We would like a little more money”. 44
What are you still passionate about?
Apart from one respondent who said “I don’t do passion”, a wide
range of passions could be discerned. Amongst the many
responses, there were five main themes:
44 By contrast in the 2017 Legal and General Survey of 2000 of their
pensioners the following “bad” aspects were mentioned: financial worries
(14%), getting older (11%), health worries (9%), missing work social life (8%);
nothing – I enjoy everything (65).
96
The Gospel 47%
The Church 40%
The Kingdom 36%
Life 34%
My family 11%
Passion for the Gospel included passion for evangelism, world
mission, Biblical but reasoned witness, relating faith and
science, Biblical truth and young people
Passion for the Church included village churches, community,
discipleship, prayer preaching, doing things well in the name of
Christ, and church history
Passion for the Kingdom includes inclusiveness, justice, older
people, peace, the persecuted, politics, the poor and the
powerless, and overseas aid.
Passion for life included the arts together with music and
painting, birdwatching, food, the French language, gardening,
travel and walking, and a sport (golf; Irish rugby; Chelsea,
Manchester United and Norwich City football clubs; Surrey &
England cricket).
Passion for the family included ‘my wife’
General reflections on your experience of retirement
Almost three quarters (74%) are “happy to be retired” – but the
inference is that the other quarter (26%) are apparently not
happy. One, however, said: “I am getting there”.
Just under two thirds (62%) said that “retirement has given me
new opportunities to serve God” – but the inference is that the
other third (34%) have not taken these new opportunities. By
contrast 11% said they were “still searching for purpose”.
Only just over half (53%) were “glad to pursue new interests
outside the church” – but the inference is that the other half are
not pursing any new interests outside the church.
97
I had assumed that those who are “glad to pursue new interests
outside the church” might have also viewed retirement as giving
“new opportunities to engage with the wider community”:
however, of the 42% who ticked the latter statement, only 25%
ticked the former statement. Interestingly, of the 42% who said
that “retirement has given me opportunities to make friends
outside the church”, only 13% had ticked both the statement
relating to “new interests outside the church” and the statement
relating to “new opportunities to engage with the wider
community”. Cross-checking differently, the number of those
seeing retirement giving opportunities both “to engage with the
wider community” and “to make friends outside the church”
rose to 28%; and the number of those seeing retirement as
giving opportunities both to pursue new interests outside the
church” and “to make friends outside the church” also rose to
28%.
Under half of the respondents (45%) viewed retirement “an
opportunity to relax and rest”. The inference is that just over
half (55%) therefore did not think of retirement “as the
‘Sabbath’ of life; the evening’s rest awaiting us at the end of a
lifetime of work and responsibility”. 45 Indeed, 19% said that “in
retirement they were busier than ever”. In the light of past
surveys in which the average working week for many ministers
can exceed or sixty hours a week, such a statement is perhaps
questionable. 46 On the other hand, maybe the statement is not
to be taken literally, but is simply an indication for many life in
retirement is ‘full’.
I had initially wondered whether the statement “retirement
gives new opportunity to play” might be coupled with “an
opportunity to relax and rest”. However while 42% ticked the
former statement and 45% the latter statement, only 17%
respondents ticked both statements – as if many do not regard
“play” as a form of relaxation!
45 David Winter, The Highway Code for Retirement (CWR, Farnham 2012)
22.
46 See Power for God’s Sake 47-49: on average ministers reckoned they
worked 64.3 hours per week.
98
42% said retirement had given “opportunities to travel and see
more of God’s world”. On reflection it might have been
interesting to ask a question relating to the nature of the travel
– one respondent, for instance, spoke of travelling by caravan
around the UK.
Just over a third (38%) agreed that “retirement is a great
adventure”. 4% preferred to speak of retirement as “a new
chapter”, but this is not the same thing.
For 6% “retirement has proved fairly boring”: all 6% together
with a further 8% - i.e. 14% in total - had found retirement to be
“a lonely experience”.
Finally, 13% felt that “retirement has led to a restriction in
life”. Again, on reflection it might have been helpful to get
respondents to indicate the nature of the restriction: clearly for
some respondents the restriction related to increasing old age;
whereas 4% appear to regard the whole experience of
retirement as restrictive, for they also described retirement as
“boring”.
I am conscious that we are dealing here with relatively small
numbers, and that therefore we cannot apply too much weight
to percentages. Furthermore, we risk the danger of inferring too
much from the silence of those who did not tick one statement
or another. Nonetheless, the picture which emerges is that
while some ministers are clearly making the most of the
opportunities which retirement has to offer, many are not. This
surely should be a cause of concern – and for action to be taken
to help more retired ministers enjoy the “fulness of life” Jesus
came to bring (see John 10.10). Hopefully the guide to
retirement in the final section might be of help to some.
99
SECTION THREE: RETIRED MINISTERS MATTER!
A CHALLENGE TO THE BAPTIST UNION OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS
75% OF RETIRED BAPTIST MINISTERS ARE NOT
CONTENT
This survey has revealed that there is a strong feeling among
many retired Baptist ministers that they have been “abandoned
into retirement” by the Baptist Union, and “ignored and
neglected” by the associations.
The current stance of the Baptist Union that there is an
‘understanding’ that the local church is responsible for the care
of retired ministers is disingenuous. This is only an
understanding between the Baptist Union and its regional
ministers: the churches and their ministers are not aware of
this understanding – and the experience of many retired
ministers is that this delegation of care is not working. In this
survey we found
40% feel they have no support from their local church
43% said the minister was not their friend
19% said they felt ‘at the edge’ or ‘very much at the edge’ of the
church
Some might wonder why the Baptist Union should have a
responsibility for its retired ministers. Many teachers, for
instance, have a tough time during their working life, but they
do not expect any special treatment in their retirement – so why
should retired ministers? Other people struggle with their loss
of role in retirement – so why should retired ministers expect
special care?
Retired ministers are in a special category
They have been – and still are – God’s gift to his church. The
denomination has a responsibility to help them fulfil that
ongoing call which most retired ministers feel God has still
upon their lives
100
The denomination has a moral duty to recognise the sacrifices
that so many ministers have made. Here I have in mind not the
financial sacrifices – although they have been considerable.
Rather these men and women have given themselves
unstintingly to the service of others – no other profession has as
its recommended terms of appointment just one day free a
week. In the course of their ministries many have had bad
experiences of God’s people, and have suffered as a result. Just
as the military care for their wounded, so too should we.
Unlike others, when ministers retire they lose not just their role
and status, they lose their friends and most lose their homes
and in the process often have to lose many of their possessions.
Almost all retired ministers have to move and start life afresh
in a new community. Retirement is a major challenge for
ministers.
A final complicating factor is that although retired ministers
stop leading a church, they do not stop attending a church.
Unlike most other retired people, they cannot totally withdraw
from the work-place – instead they have to watch others doing
their former job!
As a denomination we have entered into a life-long covenant to
support our ministers. Baptists therefore have an ongoing duty
of care for their retired ministers.
SUPPORTING THE MINISTRY OF RETIRED CLERGY:
AN ANGLICAN WAY
Supporting the ministry of retired clergy provides advice to
Anglican dioceses on how they should care for their retired
clergy. 47 In spite of the ecclesiological differences between the
Church of England and the Baptist Union of Great Britain,
47 The advice is issued by the Remuneration and Conditions of Service
Committee of the Archbishops’ Council: first published in June 2007, it was
later updated in June 2014.
101
Baptists have much to learn from this through-provoking guide.
Let me quote from this 26-page ‘advice’.
Foreword
“Ordination to the Priesthood, in the Church of England, is
understood as a life-long vocation… Ordained ministers are
called, without any limit of time, as long as they live, to
proclaim the glory of God in every part of their lives, not just in
the exercise of celebrating public services…. This advice has
been produced to assist bishops and archdeacons in supporting
retired clergy and enabling them to continue to contribute
towards the Church’s mission and ministry in a way that is
beneficial both for them and for the Church.”
Preparation for retirement
“Ten years before the likely date of retirement is not too soon to
be actively considering the question of retirement housing….
Discussions about preparation for retirement can usefully be
raised as a matter of course during ministerial review from age
60… Clergy should attend a [pre-retirement] course any time
after reaching their 55th birthday… Some dioceses have found it
useful to have a number of suitably qualified recently retired
clergy supported and commended by the bishop, to meet clergy
and their spouses… around the age of 55 and between three and
one year before retirement.”
At retirement
“It is often desirable for the diocesan bishop – or a member of
his senior team – to meet clergy, when they retire from
ministry. Likewise it may also be helpful, when they move to
another diocese on retirement or subsequently, for them to see
the bishop of a member of his senior team to discuss the kind of
ministry they might be able to offer.”
Retirement officers
“Initial pastoral care is the responsibility of the appropriate
parish priest. Bishops should appoint retirement officers to
assist in meeting these recommendations… Retirement officers
may appoint a ‘visitor’ in each deanery, who will undertake to
keep in touch with retired clergy, including visiting them once a
102
year (unless the retired cleric does not want this)… Parish
clergy should refer all cases of sickness, bereavement, financial
or other needs to a retirement officer or visitor, who should,
depending on the level of response needed or pastoral care
required, notify the bishop or archdeacon and suggest
appropriate help.”
The deployment of retired clergy
“Retired clergy are a reservoir of theological, spiritual,
counselling and other experience, available to the church…. The
purpose of all ministry is to further the Kingdom rather than to
affirm the status of the minister…. If a retired cleric finds
him/herself at odds with the vision of their incumbent the
bishops… should try to find a nearby parish where the retired
cleric can minister harmoniously with another incumbent…”
Further ways of supporting the ministry of retired clergy
“Many retired clergy will wish to participate in the annual
renewal of ordination vows, and should be encouraged in this….
Bishops are encouraged to offer the opportunity for an annual
gather for retired clergy… Other social events may be organised
if there is interest….
It may also be desirable to encourage the retirement officers
and visitors to ensure that there is celebration and appropriate
marking of milestone birthdays and significant anniversaries.”
HONOURING THE MINISTRY COVENANT: A BAPTIST
WAY
The ministerial covenant
At the heart of Baptist ecclesiology is the concept of covenanting
together. John Smyth, for instance, defined a “visible
community of saints” as “two or more joined together by
covenant with God and themselves… for their mutual
edification and for God’s glory”. There has been an increasing
recognition among Baptists of the need to rediscover their roots
103
and realise afresh that, in becoming church members, we enter
into a ‘covenant’ which involves ‘covenant relationships’. 48
In 2001 the Baptist Union produced Covenant 21 – a Covenant
for a Gospel People with a view to it being used not just within
the local church, but also within associations and the Baptist
Union itself: “We come this day to covenant with you and with
companion disciples to watch over each other and to walk
together before you in ways known and to be made known”.
In recent years British Baptists have adopted a covenant
understanding of the relationship between ministers (including
retired ministers) and the Baptist Union: those who are
accredited by the Baptist Union “have entered into a covenant
with the Baptist Union to live in conformity with the way of life
this high calling demands and to receive from the Union such
support, recognition and trust as befits those who serve Christ
in this way”. 49 The Ignite Report (December 2015) whose
recommendations have been largely accepted by the Baptist
Union Council and are in the process of being worked upon,
states in its section on ‘Living in Covenant Relationship, that
“we sense a need to re-state and reclaim our Baptist
understanding of covenant ministry”, but nowhere speaks of
retired ministers as belonging to this ministry covenant.50 This
omission is regrettable – and hopefully in future discussions by
the Baptist Union Council consideration will be given to how
this ministry covenant can be made more relevant to the needs
of retired Baptist ministers.
48 “In a Baptist church, membership involves entering into a dynamic
covenant relationship with one another - a relationship in which we commit
ourselves not only to work together to extend Christ's Kingdom, but also to
love one another and stand by one another whatever the cost”. See Paul
Beasley-Murray, Radical Believers: The Baptist way of being the church
(Baptist Union of Great Britain, Didcot 2nd edition 2006) 72 – 76.
49 Preface to the Ministerial Recognition Rules relating to the Register of
Nationally Accredited Ministers, adopted by the Council of the Baptist Union
of Great Britain on 13 October 2016.
50 See Ignite Report 27-28.
104
However, as the analysis of the data of this report on retired
ministers shows, the current ‘ministerial covenant’ between the
Baptist Union and retired ministers has – with some exceptions
– largely broken down. For the most part there is no ‘support’,
no ‘recognition’, and no ‘trust’. 51
Ministry beyond retirement
If, as almost all the respondents in this survey have stated, God
has still a call on the lives of retired ministers, then this needs
to be more clearly recognised by the Baptist Union and its
associations. Retirement may mark the end of leading a church,
but it does not mark the end of ministry. The pace of life may
have changed, but most ministers when they retire are still
keen to use their experience and energy in the service of God. Of
course, the day will come when health and strength will fail,
and ministers will need to make the transition from active
retirement to a more passive form of retirement – but in the
meantime many have a good number of years before they enter
into their ‘second retirement’. Yet currently most retired
ministers receive no help from the Baptist Union and its
associations to continue to live out their call – it is left to the
retired to take the initiative to discover opportunities for
service, and that is not always easy.
Many who entered ministry with a deep sense of God’s call find
that at retirement they are regarded simply as ‘employees’
whose time of service to the ‘company’ or ‘firm’ is over. This is a
secular view of retirement and fails to recognise the ongoing call
of God on their lives. When the time comes for ministers to
hand over the responsibility of leading a church, the Baptist
51 One exception to this breakdown in the covenant is found in the concern
shown by the Head of Ministries in cases where he is told – normally by a
regional team minister – of the death of a retired minister. Andy Hughes, the
current Head of Ministries, tells me that in such cases he sends a letter of
condolence and a gift of £250 from the Baptist Union. However, it is
important to note that this only happens when the Head of Ministries is
notified of a death: for reasons of data protection the Baptist Pension Trust
is not allowed to inform the Baptist Union of a death of a retired minister!
105
Union and its associations should help ministers to discover
what God wants them to do next and where they can best serve
him and his church. Not to do so is to deny tried and tested
vocations and to deprive churches of a wealth of leadership
resource.
Louis Armstrong, the great jazz musician once said: “Musicians
don’t retire; they stop when there’s no more music in them”.
That too is how many retired ministers feel: they still have
divine music in their souls and they will only stop giving voice
to that music when they join the greater chorus in heaven! 52
A way forward
With much of Baptist Union life now delegated from the ‘centre’
(Didcot) to the ‘regions’ (associations), regional ministers have a
key role to play in ensuring the well-being of retired ministers.
Regional ministers are not to be equated with ‘bishops’ –
Baptists have a very different understanding of the nature of
the church from Anglican. 53 They do, however, represent the
Baptist Union in their associations, and have a key role in
implementing the covenant between retired ministers and the
Baptist Union.
Precisely how regional ministers might implement the ministry
covenant is open for discussion. Although the Baptist Union
now has double – if not treble – the number of regional
ministers compared with the old ‘superintendency’ system,
there is no doubt that with the delegation of so much Baptist
Union life to the regions, they no longer have as much time to
care for the ministers in their association as did the previous
generations of area superintendents. 54 In my judgment the only
52 I am grateful for this analogy to Canon Hugh Dibbens, who in his
retirement serves as the Evangelism Adviser in the Barking Episcopal Area
of the Diocese of Chelmsford.
53 See Paul Beasley-Murray, Radical Believers 122-124.
54 In Gathering for Worship: Patterns and Prayers for the Community of
Disciples (Canterbury Press, Norwich 2005) ed by Christopher Ellis & Myra
106
way in which regional ministers can care effectively for retired
ministers in their association is to delegate much of the day-to-
day care to a small group of ‘retirement officers’ – perhaps made
up of ministers in the first stages of retirement – who would
serve as mentors and if not even as pastors to the ministers in
their care. From time to time the ‘retirement officers’ would
then report back to their regional ministers. 55
The appointment of such ‘retirement officers’ does not remove
from churches which have retired ministers in their
congregations their duty of care. As with the Anglican system,
the local church has a primary duty of care. Ideally churches
and retirement officers would work together, with churches
taking the initiative in informing retirement officers of any
significant pastoral issues.
However, retired ministers need more than pastoral care – they
need to be helped to discover how they might continue to
respond to God’s call. Retirement offices could have a key role to
play: not simply in visiting but also in putting in place a
programme of mentoring. The first six months of retirement
could be regarded as a ‘sabbatical’ during which ministers could
begin to adjust to what for most will be a new home, a new
church, and a new community. After six months, however,
many will be ready take on new opportunities of service.
My proposal is that, as with the Anglican system, retirement
officers would help ministers prepare for retirement through
one or more ‘exit interviews’, and continue to care for ministers
in retirement through annual visits. The personal touch – and
not emails – is what is wanted. Pastoral care will involve not
simply being there for the crises in life – it will also involve
Blyth, 11, regional ministers are asked the following people-centred
question: “Do you accept the charge from Christ to care for his people with
all faithfulness and compassion, watching over the life of the churches with
all humility? Will you care for the weak, bring Christ’s healing to the broken
hearted, lift up the downcast, and pray regularly for those committed to you
care?”
55 It may be that in a Baptist context it would be more helpful to talk of
‘association mentors for the retired’ rather than ‘association retirement
officers’ – the function rather than the term is ultimately what concerns me.
107
helping retired ministers to find meaning ways in which they
can continue to express the call that God has on their lives.56
Retirement officers will help regional ministers organise
gatherings – at least once a year – when retired ministers and
their spouses are invited to meet with the regional ministers,
and ideally with the President of the Baptist Union too (would
it be possible to encourage all presidents in their association
visits to make time to meet with retired ministers?).
Inevitably there would be a cost to this new system of pastoral
care for retired ministers. Although I do not envisage any
remuneration for the new ‘retirement officers’, clearly their
travel costs and other expenses would have to be met. Similarly,
the costs of an annual social event for retired ministers would
need to be paid for. The production and circulation of agreed
guidelines for the pastoral care of retirement ministers which
would need to go not just to retired ministers but also to all
ministers in pastoral charge (otherwise how would they know
they have a primary duty of care for retired ministers?) would
also entail a cost. However, I would envisage the limited costs
would not be a burden on the funds of the Baptist Union and its
associations.
The fact is retired ministers need to be honoured – rather than
forgotten. They have borne the heat of the day – they have
served God faithfully against all the odds. Retired ministers
matter!
56 On a different but related note, ministers’ widows also need to be cared for,
for many of them have also served God faithfully. Perhaps their welfare
could be part of the brief of the proposed ‘Retirement Officers’?
108
109
APPENDIX: THE RAW DATA
1. GENERAL QUESTIONS
Gender
Male: 50
Female 3
Marital status
Never married: 3
Married: 42
Divorced & remarried 1
Widowed 7
Age
Under 65: 2
65-70: 12
70-75: 19
75-80: 9
80-85: 7
85-90: 2
90-95: 1
For a comparison with retired Baptist ministers in the Baptist
Pension scheme see the following table provided by Mark Hynes, the
Pensions Manager of the Baptist Pension Trust Limited on 4
December 2017:
Status Under
65
65
–
70
70-
75
75-
80
80-
85
85-
90
90-
95
95-
100
100-
105
Pensioner 67 267 230 158 90 46 27 9 2
Dependant 29 13 26 28 35 35 19 7 3
Total 96 280 256 186 125 81 46 16 5
110
How old were you when you retired?
Under 65 16
65 29
66-70 7
No reply 0
How long have you been retired from stipendiary ministry?
Less than 5 years: 11
5-10 years: 19
11-15 years: 8
16-20 years: 11 + 1 NSM
21-25 years: 1
26+ years ` 1
2. PAST EXPERIENCE OF MINISTRY
How many years did you serve in stipendiary ministry?
11-15 years: 2
16-20 7 + 1 NSM
21-25 3
26-30 5
31-35 6
36-40 19
41-45 8
Did you have a good experience of ministry?
It was very tough – my ministry was often rejected: 0
It was tough and often unrewarding 1
There good times, but there were difficult times too 13
For the most part it was rewarding, but there were tough times 38
I have had a wonderful time 1
111
If you had an opportunity to begin life again, would you want
to be a minister?
Yes 30
Only if called 10
Probably not in today’s Baptist Union 10
Probably not 3
No 0
Would your spouse want to be married to a Baptist minister?
Yes: 28
Yes, if called 5
Probably not 5
Unsure 5
No 3
Married only for love 3
Unmarried 3
Widowed 3
She would want to be a minister 1
Too personal 1
Would your children want to be involved again in church life?
Yes: 18
Some/one would, the other/s not: 8
Unsure 14
No 5
No children 8
3. TRANSITION TO RETIREMENT
Did you receive helpful advice?
From a Baptist Union retirement course: 29 + 2 ‘only partially’
From other retired people 19
From books: 7
From regional ministers 2
112
From a financial advisor 1
No 20
What emotions did you feel in the first months of retirement?
Relief 27
Joy 22
Loneliness 8
Depression/deep sadness 6
Frustration 4
Do you still miss being the minister of a church?
Yes 26
A little 2
No 20
Yes and no 5
4. HOUSING ISSUES
How difficult was the issue of housing for retirement?
Very difficult: 2
Difficult: 4
OK: 17
Easy: 11
Very easy: 19
How did you afford to buy your own home?
I received a legacy from parents/family members 17
My spouse made it possible 13
I had a house before I became a minister: 11
I was helped by my church 3
I had enough money to buy my own house 4
I had enough money to build my own home 1
[Renting from RHBMS 12]
113
On retirement did you move away from your former
community?
Yes: 46
No: 7
5. FINANCIAL ISSUES
My/our annual income:
Under 20K: 15
Under 30K 24
Under 40K 7
Under 50K 2
Over 50K 1
No answer 4
How well do you feel you are you managing financially?
I am struggling 0
I am just about managing 5
I have enough to live on 17
I am comfortable 19
I have no money problems 12
6. HEALTH ISSUES
How good is your health? [your spouse’s health]
I have major health concerns 2 [7]
I am not in the best of health 5 [5]
I am OK 9 [8]
I am fairly healthy 20 [13]
I am in the best of health (for my age) 14 [5]
No answer 3
Note that two of the spouses are men, and that three of the retired
ministers are women.
114
What forms of regular exercise do you take?
Long walks 19 (four with dogs!)
Moderate walks 1
Occasional long walks 5
Short walks 12
Occasional swimming 3
Gardening 11
The gym/PE 4
Cycling 2
Golf 2
Bowls 1
Building 1
Church cleaning 1
Church maintenance 1
Skiing 1
Table tennis 1
7. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Have you made a will?
Yes: 47
No: 6
Have you given somebody a power of attorney (for health
and/or for finance)?
Yes: 13
No: 40
Have you chosen hymns or readings for your funeral?
Yes: 20
Made suggestions 3
No: 30
115
Do you have any worries about the future?
Yes - worries 16
Yes - concerns 11
No: 26
8. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
How regular are your daily devotions?
Every day 36
Most days 15
Infrequently 2
What scheme are you currently using for your personal
reading of the Bible?
The Lectionary/Celtic Daily Prayer 8
Printed Bible reading notes 21
Online Bible notes/devotional thoughts 4
Reading through a Bible book with a commentary 13
Reading through a bible book without a commentary or notes 10
I don’t have a regular pattern of reading 3
Are you accountable to anyone spiritually?
Yes: 13
No: 40
Is there anyone who serves as a mentor to you?
Yes: 11
No: 42
If no [to the two previous questions], would you see any
benefit at this stage in having another person have input into
your life?
Yes: 13
No: 24
116
Don’t know: 2
No answer 14
Have you been able to continue some biblical and theological
study?
Yes: 30
No: 23
Do you belong to a theological society or study group where
you can grow and develop in your theological thinking?
Yes: 7
No: 46
9. RELATIONSHIP WITH A LOCAL CHURCH
How happy are you in your present church?
Very happy: 18
Happy 10
OK 13
Unhappy 8
Very unhappy 2
How supportive is the church to you?
Very supportive 17
Supportive 14
I am treated like any other retired person 10
I feel I am ignored 6
I feel I am treated with suspicion 5
Yet to settle 1
How good is your relationship with the minister of your
present church?
Very good 17
Good 13
117
OK 7
Not good 6
Not good at all 3
No minister 6
Yet to settle 1
How much do you feel part of your present church?
I feel very much part of the church 19
I feel quite part of the church 15
OK 6
I feel on the edge 7
I feel very much on the edge 3
Yet to settle 1
Do you belong to a home group or similar small group?
Yes: 34
No: 18
Yet to settle 1
Do you belong to other groups in the church?
Men’s group/men’s prayer breakfast 8
Deacon/elder/PCC 4
Prayer chain/prayer groups 3
Bible study group 2
The choir/the music group 2
Group for preaching 2
Group for planning worship 2
Group running Alpha 2
Group for exercising pastoral care 1
Group for publicity 1
Tea meeting for older people 2
Lunch club 1
Art & craft group 1
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CAP job club 1
Messy church 1
Open Book (schools work) 1
Technical team 1
Maintenance team 1
None 21
10. FRIENDS – IN THE CHURCH AND BEYOND THE
CHURCH
Have you made friends with the members of the church?
Many: 19
[More than a few 4]
A few 25
None 4
Yet to settle 1
Have you made new friends outside the church?
Many: 12
A few 26
[Acquaintances 2]
None 5
No reply: 11
In the past six months how many church people have invited
you into their home?
20+? (Most Sundays invited out for lunch) 1
Eight: 2
Six 2
Five 2
Four 3
Three or four 1
Two + invitation to a restaurant 1
Three 3
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Two 9
One or two 1
Not many 2
One + invitation to a restaurant 1
One 5
None 17
No response 3
Are there any factors which make it difficult to make friends
in the church?
Yes 18
No 35
11. MINISTRY IN RETIREMENT
‘God continues to have a call’ versus ‘the time to withdraw’
Ordination is for life, so God continues to have a call on my life:
43
Retirement is the time to withdraw from the demands of ministry
13
Content to be an ordinary ‘punter’ versus ‘I find it difficult’
On Sundays I am content to be an ordinary ‘punter’ in the pew 22
I find it difficult listening to somebody else preach 22
Opportunities for the retired to serve God in his church
I continue to preach and lead Bible studies: 45
I look for opportunities to share my faith: 32
I continue to take funerals: 29
I lead a home/small group: 19
I help with pastoral care: 25
I mentor younger ministers: 10 + 1 “I used to”
I serve as a spiritual director: 1
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12. RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER MINISTERS SINCE
RETIREMENT
Do you attend as local ministers meeting?
Yes: 5
No: 48
Do you belong to a retired ministers’ group?
Yes: 33
No: 20
13. RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BU AND REGIONAL
MINISTERS IN RETIREMENT
Have you had a pastoral visit or personal letter or phone call
from your regional minister?
Yes: 11
No: 42
Respondents within the Eastern Baptist Association:
Yes: 5
No: 20
How often do you have opportunities to preach in churches in
your Association?
None: 9
Once: 1
Rarely: 5
Occasionally 11
Once a month 4
Regularly 4
Twice a month 3
Very often 1
In one church 2
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I do not seek them 5
My wife is ill 1
No longer 7
Have you served as a Moderator of another church?
Yes: 15
No: 38
Have you been asked to do any other task in another church?
Yes: 9
No: 44
Have you been to an association ministers’ conference?
Yes: 13
No: 40
Have you been to the Baptist Assembly?
Yes: 14
No: 39
Have you been to an Association assembly?
Yes: 17
No: 36
Do you read the electronic Baptist Times?
Yes: 19
No: 34
How much do you feel part of the Baptist family?
I feel very much part of the wider Baptist family 2
I feel part of the wider Baptist family 21
I feel neither one thing nor another 15
I no longer feel part of the wider Baptist family 11
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I feel forgotten by the wider Baptist family 8
Are you content with the support you currently receive?
Yes: 13
No: 40
14. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY
Involvement in church life
Number of children still involved in church life: 57
Number of children no longer involved in church life 60
Number of grandchildren attending church 114
Number of grandchildren not attending church 101
15. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WIDER WORLD
New Interests
I work as a volunteer in the community 21
I have developed new IT skills 10
I go [regularly] to the theatre, cinema, concert hall 9
I have done a cookery course 5
I have become a Rotarian (or equivalent) 4
I attend study courses linked with U3A/Workers Educational
Institute/ etc 4
I have joined a political party 3
I now belong to a book club: 2
16. EXPERIENCE OF RETIREMENT SO FAR
What is the hardest challenge you face in retirement?
Growing older 8
Loneliness 6
Living life meaningfully 6
Time 5
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Being a carer 4
Loss of role 4
Church 4
Money 1
No challenges 3
What are you still passionate about?
The Gospel 25
The Church 21
The Kingdom 19
Life 18
My family 6
General reflections on your experience of retirement
I am happy to be retired 39
Retirement has given me new opportunities to serve God 33
I am glad to pursue new interests outside the church 28
Retirement is an opportunity to relax and rest 24
Retirement has given opportunities to engage with the wider
community 22
Retirement has given opportunities to make friends outside the
church 22
Retirement has given opportunities to travel & see more of God’s
world 22
Retirement gives me opportunities for play 21
Retirement is a great adventure 20
In retirement I am busier than ever 10
Retirement has proved a lonely experience 8
Retirement has led to a restriction in life 7
In my retirement I am still searching for purpose 6
Retirement has proved fairly boring 4
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The College of Baptist Ministers
The College of Baptist Ministers is a community of
colleagues supporting and encouraging one another in
Christian ministry in Baptist Churches in the UK.
CBM DEVELOPING MINISTRY
Resources and Training.
A regular newsletter.
Resources: academic and sabbatical studies, research,
courses, documents and media.
Advisors sharing expertise and experience.
Sabbatical suggestions.
Peer mentoring and spiritual direction.
Guidelines & Facilitators for Reviews of Ministry.
Our nine-stranded approach to Continuing Ministerial
Development with your own Personal CMD Portfolio.
Gifts and massive reductions on purchase prices
of books on ministry.
CBM SUPPORT IN MINISTRY
Advice, Assistance and Support.
Code of Ethics in Ministry.
Guidelines and Policies on good practice.
Professional standing among colleagues and churches.
Telephone Helpline for Members.
www.collegeofbaptistministers.com
